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JOURNEYS OF LUTHER 


AND THEIR 

IMPORTANT RELATION 


TO THE 


WORK OF THE REFORMATION. 


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BY 


The Author of" Fifty Years in the Lutheran Ministry." 

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PHILADELPHIA : 


LUTHERAN OBLIGATION SOCIETY, 


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COPYRIGHT: 

LUTHERAN PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 

1880. 


INQUIRER P. & P. CO., 
STEREOTYPERS AND PRINTERS, 
LANCASTER, PA. 






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PREFACE BY THE AMERICAN EDITOR. 
_ 

I N the year 1769, there was published at 
Leipzig a quarto volume of 354 pages, the 
translated title of which is, The History of 
Dr. Martin Luther’s Remarkable Journeys, 
serving as a supplemental volume to his Life, 
and an Illustration of the History of the 
Reformation, by M. John Theodore Lingke. 

This book, which has become so rare that a 
modern writer says, “ it is seldom found in 
public libraries,” contains an account of every 
journey Luther made, from his earliest years 
to his last to Eisleben, where he died in 1546. 
Nearly one-half of the volume is taken up 
with learned notes, copious references to au¬ 
thorities, tedious discussions concerning dates, 
settlements of disputed facts, and many supple¬ 
mentary details. The book is seldom referred 
to in more modern works because of its ex¬ 
ceeding rarity, and yet a copy in very good 
condition has somehow strayed into my li- 
(iii) 



IV 


PREFACE. 


brary; and I did not procure the treasure by 
importation either, but I saw it announced in 
the catalogue of an antiquarian bookseller in 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and I lost no time in 
securing it! 

In 1873, Pastor Karl Friederich Kohler, of 
Stedtfeld, Germany, published at Eisenach, an 
8vo. volume of 331 pages, entitled in an 
English translation, The Journeys of Luther 
and their important relation to the Work of 
the Reformation. This, though in general 
founded upon Lingke, is a great improvement 
upon that book. It omits the cumbersome 
notes and references, relying mainly for its 
authorities on De Wette’s Letters of Luther 
and Burkhardt’s earlier work of the same 
character, Seckendorf, Tentzel, and others. 

This is the book here presented to the 
reader. Like Lingke’s, it gives a narrative of 
every journey of Luther, and in regular order 
according to the years. It contains many 
facts and incidents not mentioned in the biog- 
raphies, and exhibits new phases of the Re¬ 
former’s character. I think that a vacant 
space has been filled, and that the work will 
be welcome to his admirers. 


PREFACE. 


V 


Among the auxiliaries to the work of the 
Reformation, the Journeys of Luther deserve 
special mention. His personal presence at the 
numerous places visited, his social intercourse, 
his preaching, his counsels and private con¬ 
versations, had a good influence upon thou¬ 
sands whom his writings never reached. 

It is time that another book upon Luther 
should be published, none having appeared in 
this country for several years, and good books 
concerning Luther are always welcomed by 
thousands. John G. Morris. 

Baltimore. 



CONTENTS. 


Preface 


Page. 

• 3 


Chapter I.— Journeys in Early Life. 1484-1518. 
Mansfeld, Magdeburg, Eisenach, Erfurt. 1484- 


I 5°7. 

Journey to Wittenberg and Rome. 1508-1511.... 

Sojourn in Rome, and Return. 

Journeys to Leipzig and Other Places. 1512- 

Chapter II.— Journeys, including' Occasions of 
Early Discussions. 1518-1522. 


At Leipzig.. 

His Return from Heidelberg to Wittenberg. 

Journey to Augsburg. Before Cajetan. 1518.. . 

His Trial at Augsburg, and Return Home. 

Journey to Altenberg. Before Charles Von Miltitz. 

1519 ... 

Journey to Leipzig, to meet Dr. Eck. 

Discussion at Leipzig. 1519. ... 

Reception in Leipzig, and the Result. 

Return to Wittenberg... 

Journeys to Liebenwerde, Pretzsch, Torgau, Kem- 

berg. 1519-1520... 

Journeys to Lichtenberg and Eulenberg. 1520.. 

(7) 


11 

29 

37 

42 


54 

54 

61 

64 

69 

79 

86 

9i 

95 

102 

105 

112 
















8 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Chapter III.— Journeys, from the Diet at Worms 

to the Diet at Augsburg. 1521-1530. 118 

Journey to Worms. 118 

Trial before the Imperial Diet Assembled at 

Worms, and his Sojourn in that City. 136 

Return from Worms. 144 

At the Wartburg, and first Journey to Wittenberg.. 162 
The Occasion of the Second Journey to Wittenberg. 174 
The Second Journey from the Wartburg to Witten¬ 
berg, Erfurt and Jena. 1522. 177 

Journey from Jena through Borna back to Witten¬ 
berg. 1522. 192 

Journeys to Lochau, Torgau, Herzburg, Belgern, 
Borna, Altenberg, Zwickau, Borna, Eulenberg, 
and through Torgau back to Wittenberg. 1522. 197 
Journeys to Lichtenberg, Leisnig, Weimar, Erfurt 

and Zerbst. 1522. 204 

Chapter IV.— Journeys, including those to Tor¬ 
gau, etc. 1523-1530. 210 

Journeys to Schweinitz, Altenberg, Weimar, Er¬ 
furt, Torgau, Leisnig and Magdeburg. 1523- 

1524. 210 

Journey to Weimar and Jena. 1524. 217 

Journeys to Pretzsch, Kemberg and Torgau. 1524- 

!525 . 225 

Journeys Occasioned by the Peasants’ War; to 
Bitterfeld, Seeburg, Eisleben, Stolberg, Nord- 
hausen, Erfurt, Weimar, Orlamunde, Kahla and 

Jena. 1525. 228 

Journeys to Torgau, Segrehna and Altenberg. 
1526-1527..,. 236 















CONTENTS. 9 

Page. 

Journeys to Torgau, Borna, Altenberg, Weimar, 
Torgau, Lochau and Kemberg. (Visitation 

Tours.) 1528. 245 

Visitation Journeys to Kemberg, Schweinitz, Tor¬ 
gau, and Other Places.254 

Journey to Marburg. 259 

Arrival in Marburg, and the Colloquium. 263 

Return to Wittenberg. 1529. 270 

Chapter V.— Journeys near the Presentation of 

the Augsburg Confession. 1530. 275 

Journeys to Prettin, Belzig, Ringethal and Torgau. 

(Visitation Tours. Articles of Torgau.) 1530. 275 
Journeys to Coburg, by way of Torgau. (Diet of 

Augsburg.) 1530. 277 

Arrival at Coburg, and the Arrangements in the 

Fortress. 1530. 284 

Departure from Coburg. 303 

Chapter VI.— Journeys,including that to Schmal- 

kalden, etc. 1 53 1—1 537 -- -. 3°7 

Journeys to Torgau, Lochau (Annaberg), Kemberg, 

Torgau and Preizsch. 307 

Journeys to Torgau and Pretzsch. 1532. 311 

Journeys to Torgau and Schweinitz. 1532. 315 

Journeys to Torgau and Worlitz. 319 

Journeys to Schlieben and Torgau. (Visitation 

Tours.) 1533. 321 

Journeys to Torgau, Weimar, Dessau (twice), and 

Torgau again. 1534-1535 . 3 2 4 

Journeys to Torgau, Eulenberg, Torgau and 

Lochau. 1536. 3 2 8 

To Schmalkalden. 1537. 33 2 




















IO 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Departure from Schmalkalden, and Arrival at Wit¬ 
tenberg. 344 

Journeys to Torgau and Lichtenberg. 1537.352 

Chapter VII.—Journeys to Time of Death. 

1538-1546 . 354 

Journeys to Torgau twice, and to Lochau. 354 

Journey to Leipzig, and Business. 358 

Return from Leipzig by way of Grimma. 362 

Journey to Lichtenberg. 1539. 365 

Journey to Eisleben and Nieder Rossla. 1539. •. 367 

Journey to Dessau. 1540. 368 

Journey to Weimar and Eisenach, by way of Erfurt 

and Gotha..370 

Journey to Pretzsch. 1541. 377 

Journey to Naumburg. 379 

AmsdorfPs Consecration to the Episcopal Office, 

and Luther’s Return. 1542. 383 

Journey to Dessau, and to an Unknown Place. 

1542. 387 

Journeys to Zeitz, Altenberg and Torgau. 1544.. 390 

Journeys to Dobeln and Merseburg. 1545. 392 

Functions at Merseburg. 1545.... 396 

Return to Wittenberg, by way of Halle (Merse¬ 
burg), Zeitz, Eisleben, Leipzig and Torgau. 

1545 . 398 

Journeys to Eisleben and Mansfeld, through Halle. 

1 545-1546 .400 

Journeys to Torgau and Eisleben, through Bitter- 

feld, Landsberg and Halle. 1546. 403 

Journeys at Times Unknown, and Conclusion.... 419 






















THE JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


CHAPTER I. 

LUTHER'S JOURNEYS LN EARLY LIFE ; 
1484-1507. 

MANSFELD, MAGDEBURG, EISENACH, ERFURT. 

r HE first important journey which Luther 



X performed was that to school. Most 
probably at first to Mansfeld,* although others 
maintain it was Eisleben; but Luther him¬ 
self does not mention it, for he says, “ I was 
born at Eisleben and reared at Mansfeld.” 
Melanchthon in his Life of Luther reports the 
same, and he certainly was capable of giving 
the most authentic information. According 
to the views of most writers, Luther’s parents 
settled in Mansfeld as early as 1484, for the 


Leben Hans Luther, von Keil, p. 23. 

(») 














12 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


purpose, as Seckendorf says, of earning “ a 
scanty support by working in the celebrated 
mines of that place.” 

This first journey to school, which could not 
be accomplished without great inconvenience 
and trouble, owing to the extremely bad roads 
which at that time existed in most places, 
even in cities, may be regarded as a significant 
omen of all the toils and hardships which 
afterwards awaited him in his wanderings 
through life. The father, who wished to lose 
no time in giving his son a good and early 
training, carried him in his arms to school, and 
commended him most earnestly to the atten¬ 
tion of the teacher. Of this period, Mat- 
thesius says, “ Hans Luther had trained his 
baptized little son in the fear of' God, and 
when the child had reached a proper age, he 
sent him to a Latin school with earnest prayer, 
where the lad diligently and quickly learned 
the Ten Commandments, the Child’s Creed, 
the Lord’s Prayer, the child’s grammar, the 
time of the occurrence of the festivals and 
Christian hymns.”* 

Luther himself in later life spoke of these 


Koenig’s Martin Luther. 




JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


13 


times, and in his last journey wrote in a book 
the name of Nicholas Oemler, who had be¬ 
friended him, and added these words, “ To my 
good old friend, who more than once carried 
me when a little boy, in his arms, to and from 
school.” Oemler was himself at that time an 
older scholar. But school life, which is in¬ 
tended as a discipline for after life, also has its 
sorrows and troubles—and these Luther ex¬ 
perienced to the full. “ In one morning,” 
Luther himself narrates, “I was severely 
whipped fifteen times.” In later years he still 
complains : “ How in former times the schools 
were real prisons and hells, the school-masters 
were tyrants and flagellators; the poor chil¬ 
dren were beaten unmercifully and unceas¬ 
ingly, and were compelled to learn with great 
labor and immoderate toil, and yet to little 
profit. To such teachers and masters we were 
everywhere obliged to submit; they knew 
nothing themselves, and could teach us noth- 
ing good or proper.” This condition of things 
induced the father, who clearly discerned that 
Mansfeld was not the place for the further 
education of his son, to yield to the ardent 
desire of the aspiring boy, to send him to 


14 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

Magdeburg in 1497. He was now fourteen 
years of age.* Hans Reinecke, who afterwards 
became superintendent of the foundries at 
Mansfeld, was the traveling companion of 
young Luther. In his later years, the Re¬ 
former still cherished the highest respect for 
this man, and on the death of his wife in 1536, 
sent him his sincere sympathies and condole- 
ment through Melanchthon. He also men¬ 
tioned him in a letter to Nicholas Sturm, 
Burgomaster of Magdeburg, in these words: 
“ It is true, that I became acquainted with you 
at the house of D. Paul Mosshauer, when he 
was an officer of the government and you 
were several times his guest. At that time I 
was attending the school of the Franciscans in 
company with Hans Reinecke/’f Here also 

* Selneccer, in Oratione de Luthero, says: “ Puer Luth- 
erus, anno aetatis decimo quarto missus est Magdeburgum 
in Scholam.” 

f In the month of May, 1497, two scholars wended their 
way along the high road from Mansfeld to Bernburg, knap¬ 
sacks on their backs, sticks in their hands and great tears 
rolling down their cheeks; they were Martin Luther, aged 
fourteen, and his comrade Hans Reinecke, about the same. 
Both had just quitted the paternal roof, and were proceeding 
on foot to Magdeburg, to avail themselves of the Currend 
Schulen , celebrated seminaries in the middle ages, which 




\ 

JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. I 5 

he had the opportunity of hearing and seeing 
Andreas Proles, an Augustinian monk, a rela¬ 
tive of Dr. Staupitz, and who was compelled 
to suffer much for the truth’s sake. Secken- 
dorf says of him, “ that he was a learned man, 
who longed for the Reformation, and even pre¬ 
dicted its coming.” 

As Luther himself tells us, his parents 
toiled long and very hard, before they acquired 
sufficient means to secure the ownership of 
two furnaces. The father became a substan¬ 
tial iron master and also held the position of 
town councilor at Mansfeld. But this was 
not his condition at the time of which we are 
speaking, and hence we can understand why 
he transferred his son from Magdeburg to 
Eisenach, where some of his mother’s relatives 
resided. This was in 1498, after he had spent 
not quite a year at school in Magdeburg. As 
he was a poor boy, he was compelled to seek 
his support as many other indigent pupils did, 
by singing before the doors of the citizens. 

still exist. Here each boy paid for his board and education 
by means of alms collected from the richer tpwnsmen, under 
whose windows they used to sing twice a week, and of 
money earned as choristers. Audin’s “ Histoire de M. 
Luther.” 



t6 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

On one occasion, as he tells us, when he was 
rudely ordered away from a door without re¬ 
ceiving anything, and was terribly depressed 
in heart, a pious lady who observed the cir¬ 
cumstance from her own door, was so moved 
that she not only supplied him with bread, 
but was so delighted with his singing and 
praying, that she took him into her house as 
a guest. This noble-hearted lady was Ursula 
Cotta, the widow of Conrad Cotta, a daugh¬ 
ter of Heinrich Scholl, Burgomaster of Ilefeld. 
From feelings of gratitude, Luther in sub¬ 
sequent years, from 1540 to 1541, entertained 
at his table her son, Heinrich Cotta, who 
afterwards became Burgomaster at Eisenach. 
The epitaph which Cotta’s wife dedicated to 
him alludes to this fact. In reference to the 
time at Eisenach where he found in a pious 
woman a faithful patroness and comforter, he 
says: “ It is stated and it is true, the pope 
himself has been a poor scholar; therefore 
despise not those poor lads who cry at your 
door, Pattern propter Deum (Bread for God’s 
sake) and sing their song for daily food. I 
was once such a screaming boy, and sought 
my bread at people’s doors, particularly in my 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


1 7 


beloved city of Eisenach.” In the house of 
this noble-minded lady he was taught music, 
which often served as the solace of his wearied 
spirit. He there became a skillful perfor'mer 
on the flute and lute, and music continued 
through his whole life to be a source of the 
purest enjoyment and consolation. Hence he 
says : “ I am displeased with him who despises 
music, as all fanatics do. It is a gift of God, 
not of man. It drives away the devil and 
gladdens the heart of man; by music you for¬ 
get all wrath, intemperance, pride, and other 
vices.” * 

Here his teacher was John Trebonius, under 
whose tuition “ he made rapid progress in 
grammar, rhetoric, and poetry,” in the school 
of the Carmelites, which, in 1532, was trans¬ 
ferred to the monastery, in which preachers 
were trained. Some maintain that John Hilten 
(Hiltner), a celebrated FYanciscan monk, was 
his teacher at this time. It was he who once 
uttered this prophetic saying: “ There will 

soon rise up among you a hero who will 
create terrible confusion among you monks, 

* P'or a full narrative of his relations to the Cotta family, 
see any complete biography of Luther, 



1 8 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

against whom you will not dare to raise your 
finger.” But he could not have been Luther’s 
instructor; for as early as 1496 he was cast 
into- prison for life, on account of his zealous 
opposition to the errors of the Church. Be¬ 
sides, Luther never mentions this fact, which 
undoubtedly he would have done if he had 
been his pupil. 

Doubtless Luther often visited his relatives 
at Mohra, where his parents had lived, and at 
Marksuhl, during his vacations. It is very 
probable, as Dr. Riickert intimates in his 
excellent book on “ The Antiquities of Alten- 
stein and Liebenstein,” that he was present on 
the occasion of the Christmas celebration, 
which is continued to the present day on 
Antonius Hill, near Schweina, and there for 
the first time heard the beautiful old hymn of 
the cloister and of the people, “And as I 
guard my little flock,” etc. It may be that 
the recollection of the simple and stirring 
tones of that beautiful hymn inspired him 
when in after life he composed his magnifi¬ 
cent Christmas song, “ From the high heavens 
I come to man.” * 


* Miiller’s Luther in Sein Stammort. Mohra, 1862, 
pp. 27-8. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


19 


After four years residence in Eisenach 
(1498-1501), during which, besides pursuing 
his studies, he also learned the art of turning 
on a lathe, so that if he should fail to secure a 
livelihood by his education, he could resort to 
this trade, he proceeded to Erfurt in 1501, 
which was then the seat of a celebrated uni¬ 
versity, where, under the rectorate of Iodocus 
Trutvetter (also called Jodocus Isomacensis), 
he was matriculated as a student. Besides 
Trutvetter, he had as teachers John Gryphius, 
John Bigand, John Grevenstein, Bartholomew 
Usinger, Dr. Gerhard Hecker, and Jerome 
Emser, of whom the last-named and Usinger 
subsequently became his bitter opponents. 
Here, with fervent prayer, he applied himself 
diligently to his studies; he not only con¬ 
tinued reading the ancient writers with untiring 
industry, but also with great zeal prosecuted 
scholastic philosophy, and with such success 
that in 1503 he became Bachelor of Philoso¬ 
phy, and in 1505, Master. He then began to 
give lectures on Aristotle and Ethics.* 

* Melanchthon, in Vita Lutheri , says: “ He was so pre¬ 
eminent in scholarship, that he was the admiration of the 
whole university.” 



20 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

Shortly before this, a most important event 
occurred. One day, as he was engaged in 
the university library, an entire copy of the 
Latin Bible came under his notice for the first 
time. That this was a happy circumstance to 
this studious young man, may be learned from 
his own words: “ When I was twenty years 
old, I had not yet seen a complete Bible, and 
thought that the whole book consisted only 
of the Gospels and Epistles, which were read 
on Sunday in church. At last I found a Bible 
in the library at Erfurt, which I continued to 
read with profound amazement. O God, 
could I have one of these books, I would 
ask no other worldly treasure.” 

The more he read, the more pleasurable 
was his excitement, the more intense his 
wonder, the more exalted his ideas, and, at 
the same time, the more terrible his doubts. 
Moved to the inmost depths of his soul, 
Luther went home. An extraordinary change 
had been wrought in his mind. What an 
immense field for research had opened itself to 
his view! and the idea of devoting his life as a 
theologian to the dissemination of so much 
divine truth yet unknown to the world, quiv¬ 
ered through his mind. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


21 


But what a struggle now ensued in the soul 
of the young man! On one side the painful 
longing of his own heart, and on the other 
the will of a severe and highly honored father, 
who was averse to the clerical profession, and 
who insisted that his son, trained to obedience, 
should devote himself to the study of law; on 
one side, again, the irresistible inclination and 
sense of duty to sacrifice his life in the service 
of the Lord, and on other, the feeling of 
human weakness and unworthiness; on one 
side, the struggle of the spirit after its element 
of liberty, and on the other, the terrible torture 
of acting against the will of God as expressed 
by the Church. 

The result of this severe conflict was an 
attack of sickness, which brought him to the 
borders of the grave; for his physical consti¬ 
tution was not vigorous, and, besides, he was 
debilitated by excessive study. He was look¬ 
ing forward to his approaching dissolution, 
when an old monk, an entire stranger to him, 
and whose name history has not preserved, 
visited him, and to him Luther revealed his 
gloomy prospects. But the priest consoled 
him, for he had heard of his distinguished 


22 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


talents and rich literary acquirements, and 
kindly said: “My friend, be comforted; you 
will not die of this sickness. Our God will 
yet make a great man of you, whose destiny 
it will be to comfort many souls; for whom 
God loves, and whom he designs to employ as 
his instrument of doing good, upon him he 
early lays the cross of affliction.” * 

Although Luther recovered from this attack 
as the priest had prophetically declared, yet 
his mind was enveloped in a labyrinth of 
doubts, and he suffered from extreme depres¬ 
sion of spirit. At this time—it was in the 
summer of 1505—Luther determined to visit 
his parents, accompanied by his friend Alexis. 
Luther frankly declared to his friend his 
decided preference for the study of theology, 
and Alexis strenuously employed every means 
to change his purpose. So intently were they 
engaged in this friendly discussion, that they 
did not observe that a thunder-storm was 
gathering on the horizon. Suddenly a flash 

*Seckendorf refers this event to the time of Luther’s 
convent life, but it unquestionably belongs to an earlier 
period, which is plainly shown by Rau in “ Das Papstthum : 
Seine Entstehung, Seine Bliithe, u. Sein Verfall. Stuttgart, 
1872. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


23 


of lightning rendered Luther almost insensi¬ 
ble ; and, when in a few minutes he recovered 
from the shock and looked round, he saw 
Alexis, his dearest friend, lying dead at his 
feet.* This circumstance, if it is authentic, 
occurred in the vicinity of Stotternheim, seven¬ 
teen days before Luther entered into the 
monastery. 

“As a good friend was murdered,” says 
Mathesius, “ and a terrific thunderbolt had 
alarmed him, and God’s wrath and the last 
judgment painfully excited him, he made a 
vow to go into a monastery, there to serve 
God and be reconciled to him by saying 
masses, and to secure eternal salvation by the 
righteousness of the cloister.” f 

In pursuance of this vow, on July 17, 1505, 
he entered the Augustinian cloister. Luther 
says of himself: “ I went into the monastery 
and abandoned the world, because I despaired 
of myself”—“ I thought that God would not 

* According to others, when Luther went to the lodgings 
of Alexis to take him on the journey, he found him 
murdered in his bed. 

-f- These incidents are related at length by all the biogra¬ 
phers of Luther. 



24 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


accept me; if I were to get to heaven at all, 
the most of it depended on myself;”—“On this 
account I became a monk, and submitted to 
terrible burdens.” 

Subsequently he wrote to his father, “ I did 
not willingly nor cheerfully become a monk, 
much less for the sake of luxurious fare; but 
_as the pains of death got hold on me, and I 
was overwhelmed by terrible fright, I made a 
constrained and unwilling vow.” 

The displeasure which this step awakened 
in his father afterwards occasioned him, from 
time to time, the most painful solicitude, 
especially because in the exercise of the 
monastic life he could never secure any solid 
peace of mind. His two companions which 
he took into the cloister, were the Latin 
authors Virgil and Plautus. Here he gave 
himself up to corporeal and mental self-torture, 
but still he was unhappy, and found no rest 
for his soul. 

“At that time,” says Mathesius, “ God sent 
him an old brother as a confessor; he consoled 
him effectually, and directed his mind to the 
forgiveness of sin through grace , and taught 
him from St. Bernard’s sermons that he must 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


25 


believe for himself, that the merciful God and 
Father had secured the pardon of all sins 
through the sacrifice and blood of his Son.” 
This doctrine afforded the sufferer genuine 
consolation; and ever after he mentioned the 
fact to the great honor of his confessor, and 
heartily thanked him for his faithful Gospel 
preaching. 

By this discourse, Luther says, he was not 
only richly consoled, but also taught the true 
meaning of that frequent declaration of St. 
Paul: “ By faith we are justified.” 

In looking back to his student life, we must 
not omit the fact that he made several brief 
journeys to various places from Erfurt. On 
one occasion, about the year 1503, he was on 
his way to visit his parents, but he had not 
proceeded half a mile from Erfurt when an 
accident occurred which almost cost him his 
life, and in which, as a Catholic, he invoked 
the help of the Virgin Mary. An artery of 
his foot was pierced by his sword, which the 
students of those times were accustomed to 
wear.* Although we have no record of the 

*Lingke, Die Reisen Luthers p. II, says he got this 
story, which is here much abbreviated, from a manuscript 
3 



26 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


fact, it is likely that after his recovery from 
this dangerous wound, he carried out his 
original plan. He also speaks of a tour to 
Arnstadt, which occurred probably in the 
year 1506 or 1507, of which he says: “ I was 
once at Arnstadt in the Carmelite monastery, 
where, during the meal, a Carmelite, named 
Heinrich Kiihne, read to us, who was regarded 
as a great man among them, and highly 
lauded the monastic order above all other 
conditions in life. We young people sat with 
open eyes and mouths, and chatted very 
devoutly about the consoling eulogies on 
monkery.” As appears from the Table Talk, 
he went to other places, and also occasionally 
preached in the neighboring villages.* * 

Thus Luther sought by his entire consecra¬ 
tion to the Church , to secure peace of mind and 
righteousness in the monastic life, to attain 
which he had thus far striven in vain. Ema¬ 
ciated, pale, wretched, he glided through the 
sombre halls of the cloister like a ghost. 

At this time God’s grace raised up a deliv- 

collection of Latin Dialogues (Colloquia Lutheri manu- 
scripta). The fact is extremely doubtful. 

*Seclcendorf, 1. i., 21., “ et aliquando ibi concionari .” 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


V 


erer for the infatuated monk, in the person of 
John Staupitz,* the Vicar General of the 
Augustinian order. He had come to Erfurt 
on a visitation to the cloister. The inconsola¬ 
ble mental state of the emaciated monk was at 
once perceived by him, and he immediately 
recognized the principal cause of it. Without 
delay he undertook not only to heal his 
spiritual malady, but he also elevated him 
from the degradings phere of his duties; and, 
by the present of a Bible, led him back again 
to his studies. Now his peace of mind was 
restored; the mists were dispersed, the storm 
was calmed, as, from profound conviction, he 
exclaimed: “Yes! we are justified by faith, 
and receive forgiveness from God through the 
grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 

Soon after, he was promoted to a higher 
dignity, and on May 2, 1507, he was ordained 
to the priesthood by the Bishop of Branden¬ 
burg. 

A few days before his ordination (April 22), 
he wrote to Braun, who was a priest at 
Eisenach: 

* For the character of Staupitz, see Mathesius’ Sermons on 
Luther, Serm. xii., p. 143, and Fabricii Centifolium, p. 19, 
D’Aubigne, i., 172-4. 



28 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


“As the holy God, who is glorious in all 
his works, has so honored me, a miserable 
and unworthy sinner, as to promote me and 
to call me into his sacred service out of pure 
mercy, I feel myself solemnly bound to under¬ 
take the holy office entrusted to me, and to 
be thankful as far as in me lies for the distin¬ 
guished honor of this divine vocation.” 

His father was invited to be present at the 
ordination, and twenty men on horseback ac¬ 
companied him. On this occasion he made 
his son a donation of twenty guilders, but at 
the same time he was not well pleased with 
this proceeding, as appears from Luther’s own 
declaration: “As we,” says Luther, “were 
seated at the table, I spoke to him in all filial 
respect, and proceeded to show that he was 
wrong and I was right, and said, ‘ Dear father, 
why did you so bitterly oppose my becoming 
a monk ? and perhaps you are not even now 
altogether satisfied with the course I pursued ; 
for is it not a divine institution, and should 
we not submit ?’ Then before all the doctors, 
masters and others who were present, he re¬ 
plied : 4 Have not you learned men read in the 
Scriptures, that a man should honor his father 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


2 9 


and his mother?’ When I heard that, I was 
so alarmed that I could not answer a word.”* 

The rest began to talk of indifferent matters, 
when suddenly the miner exclaimed, “ Pray 
heaven, this whole ceremony be not a tempta¬ 
tion of the devil.” This circumstance was the 
occasion of Luther’s sending to his father his 
treatise published in 1522, “On Spiritual and 
Monastic Vows,” accompanied by a dedication. 

Luther was very reluctant in submitting to 
the wish of his friend Staupitz to preach. He 
preached his first sermon as a priest in the 
small, almost dilapidated chapel of the mon¬ 
astery. He says, “Oh, how I dread the pul¬ 
pit ! It is not a small matter, in the place of 
God to speak and preach to the people.” 

JOURNEY TO WITTENBERG AND ROME, 
1508-151 I. 

Staupitz, Luther’s great friend and patron, 
soon came to the conclusion that another 
sphere of activity was better adapted to this 
highly-gifted young man than the confined 
walls of a cloister. He soon succeeded in in¬ 
ducing the Elector of Saxony, Frederick the 

* Tenzel, Bericht d. Reformation. Th. 1. 148. 

3 * 



30 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

Wise, with whom he stood in high favor, to 
call Luther as Professor to the newly estab¬ 
lished University at Wittenberg. Obedient to 
this call, Luther arrived in Wittenberg in De¬ 
cember or November of 1508. His departure 
from Erfurt was sudden, as appears from a let¬ 
ter to John Brajjn, minister at Eisenach, in 
which he says, “ Do not think it strange that 
I left you so silently; my leaving was so sud¬ 
den that my best friends knew nothing about 
it. I intended to write to you, but it was not 
possible for want of time; but I regretted that 
I was compelled to hasten away without hav¬ 
ing visited you.” 

At Wittenberg, he first lectured on the 
philosophy of Aristotle, and then on the 
Psalms and the Epistle to the Romans. 

“ I made myself so familiar with the Bible,” 
he says, most probably in reference to this 
period, “ that I knew the page and place of 
every passage. No other study than that of 
the Scriptures afforded me any satisfaction; I 
read them most diligently and impressed them 
upon my memory. Many a time a single im¬ 
portant passage occupied my thoughts a whole 
day.” 


# 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


31 


His theological lectures were soon numer¬ 
ously attended, for he was an impressive and 
learned speaker, and particularly assailed the 
scholastic philosophy and pedantic absurdities 
of his day. 

Among his hearers of high rank we find 
the first rector of the university, Dr. Pollich 
von Mellerstadt, private physician of the 
Elector Frederick, who soon also became a 
doctor of theology, and who in his day was 
called the Light of the World. 

Mathesius says that he thus spoke of 
Luther: “ The monk (Luther) will expose the 
errors of all the doctors, and will introduce a 
new doctrine which will reform the whole 
Romish Church.” 

This accords precisely with what Luther 
reports that Mellerstadt said of those times: 
“ Pay no attention to the doctors; we must 
not hear what the holy church says, but what 
the Scriptures say.” 

But Luther the teacher was also to become 
pastor and preacher; but he reluctantly yielded 
to the urgent desires of his friend Staupitz, as 
we have already learned was the case in 
Erfurt. Luther overcame his painful anxiety, 


32 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


and preached with distinctness and power. 
He felt what he said; it proceeded from his 
heart, and with the overpowering force of con¬ 
viction it penetrated the hearts of others. 

Ascend the pulpit and preach,” said Stau- 
pitz. “ No,” said the modest professor, “ it is 
no light thing to speak in God’s stead.” Stau- 
pitz insisted. Fifteen arguments, protests or 
evasions, did the ingenious Luther find to ex¬ 
cuse himself from this service. “Ah, worthy- 
pastor,” he supplicated, “it will be the death 
of me.” “What then?” was the response. 
“ Be it so, in God’s name.” The pertinacity 
of his ecclesiastical superior prevailed, and 
the ever-humble monk began to preach. 

His journey to Rome in 1510 was an im¬ 
portant event. It was not the hope of secur¬ 
ing a Cardinal’s hat that led him thither, as 
some Romish writers would have us believe, 
but certain affairs relating to his order. A 
controversy which seven Augustinian mon¬ 
asteries conducted against the Vicar-General 
(Staupitz) was the principal occasion of Lu¬ 
ther’s going to Rome; he was instructed to 
settle the difficulty and to return. It is also 
stated that another object of his tour was to 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


33 


secure for his monastic brethren the privilege 
of eating meat in cases of necessity.* 

To all this must be added the ardent desire 
of his own heart, for he hoped by a visit to 
the sacred places to find peace and consolation 
for his troubled spirit; and this he has himself 
confessed. 

On his way he stopped at Heidelberg, where 
he lodged with the Augustinians, “ and spent 
some time with them, exercising himself in 
disputation.” 

Before he reached Italy, an unpleasant cir¬ 
cumstance occurred. Some brothers whom 
he gently rebuked for eating meat on a holy- 
day, were so bitterly incensed against him, 
that they even threatened to murder him. 
Fortunately he heard of this infamous design 
from the janitor, so that he was enabled to 
escape. He continued his journey, and visited 
Milan, as he himself relates. 

“ When I was in Italy,” says he, “ I saw 
that in Milan they have no such canon. And 
as I wished to read mass at that place, they 
said to me, Nos sumus Ambrosiani (We are 

* For further details see Lingke, Seckendorf, Waither 
Mathesius, Walch, Loescher, and others. 

C 



34 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


Ambrosians). It is said that the people at 
Milan were engaged in an angry controversy 
whether they should adopt Gregory’s or Am¬ 
brose’s book in the church, and they prayed 
to God to decide the question by a miracle. 

“ Now as during the night they had laid 
both books on the high altar in the church 
that of Ambrose was found to be entire and 
uninjured, but Gregory’s was torn into several 
pieces and scattered about. So that they of 
Milan conduct affairs differently from those of 
Rome.” 

When he reached a wealthy cloister on the 
river Po, he received many favors, and thus 
speaks of them: 

“ In Lombardy on the Po, there is a rich 
Benedictine cloister, which has an annual in¬ 
come of 36,000 ducats. The monks live lux¬ 
uriously there, and spend 12,000 ducats in 
furnishing their table for guests, 12,000 on the 
buildings, and the other third upon the con¬ 
vent and the brothers. In that cloister I was 
very kindly received and hospitably treated.” 

Before he arrived at Padua, it is likely that 
the circumstance occurred which he thus re¬ 
lates : 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


35 


“ Much is said of the Italian air, and espec¬ 
ially that it is so subtle that at night care is 
taken to close tightly all the doors and win¬ 
dows ; for it is said that the night air is very 
dangerous and even pestilential, in many cases 
occasioning fever. The brother, my traveling 
companion, and I, had sad experience of this; 
for one night we slept with open windows; 
when we awoke, we felt a disagreeable sensa¬ 
tion in the head, and which became so violent, 
that we could travel only a mile that day. It 
created an inextinguishable thirst, and such a 
disgust for wine that we could not even smell 
it. We felt a desire to drink water all the 
time, and that is very dangerous, for it is im¬ 
pure. At last, we refreshed ourselves and 
were restored by eating two pomegranates, 
and by this means God preserved our lives.” 

As he had recovered from his severe head¬ 
ache when he arrived in Padua, his first desire 
was to preach publicly. The crowd that 
flocked to hear him was so great, that, as 
Blainville reports, he was compelled to preach 
in the open air, and he must have preached in 
Latin, as his hearers were the students of the 
University of Padua. 


36 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

From Padua he journeyed to Bologna, 
where he was again attacked with such a pain¬ 
ful affection of the head, that he despaired of 
his life. 

Florence was also to see the great Reformer 
in the midst of her, before he trod the soil of 
the holy city. The hospitals for the sick here 
were of the very best character, and he thus 
spoke of them : 

“ In Italy the hospitals are well-furnished, 
and handsomely built. They provide good 
and wholesome food to the sick, and are at¬ 
tended by faithful servants and competent 
physicians. The beds and clothing are clean, 
and the rooms are neatly painted. As soon 
as a patient is brought in, his clothes are taken 
off in the presence of a clerk, who faithfully 
numbers and describes them; they are well 
taken care of; the patient is then dressed in a 
white robe and put in a nice, clean bed. Soon 
after, two physicians are summoned, and the 
servants also come, bringing suitable food in 
clean vessels. Several matrons and other 
women with veiled faces also appear and serve 
the sick several days. This I have seen at 
Florence. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


37 


After he had here recovered from his sick¬ 
ness, he continued his journey to Rome, and 
u hen the city first burst upon his sight, he fell 
upon his knees and lifted up his hands and 
exclaimed, “ Hail, holy Rome ! ” 

His arrival in Rome must have occurred 
about St. John’s day, 1510, as appears from his 
own declaration. “ There is a saying at 
Rome,” he says, “ ‘ Blessed is the mother 
whose son reads mass in Rome on the Satur¬ 
day before St. John’s day.’ How gladly would 
I have made my mother blessed. But there 
were too many aspirants for the privilege, and 
I could not accomplish my ardent desire, and 
so instead of reading mass, I ate a red her¬ 
ring.” Luther was now 27 years of age. He 
had learned much, and much was yet to be 
learned. 

SOJOURN IN ROME, AND RETURN. 

He had scarcely entered the holy city, when 
he felt a burning zeal to perform hjs customary 
devotional duties, as he affirms. “ I visited all 
the churches and tombs. I read mass several 
times, and at those times I was almost sorry 
that my father and mother were still living, for 
I would have so cheerfully delivered them out 
4 


38 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


of purgatory by my masses and other good 
works and prayers.” * 

As he was then so anxious to rescue his 
friends from purgatory by the sacrifice of the 
mass, as was at that time universally believed, 
and as he was very slowly and devoutly pro¬ 
ceeding with the service, seven masses were 
read at an altar next to him before he had fin¬ 
ished one. The officiating priests, impatient of 
his long delay, exclaimed, “ Passa! Passa! 
hurry, hurry, send Mary’s Son home quick!” 
To atone for his sins, he crawled upon his 
knees up Pilate’s Stairs,f which according to 
the legend of the church, had been transported 
from the judgment hall at Jerusalem to Rome. 
But although he tried by this act to establish 
his superstitious confidence, yet it appeared to 
him that he heard in a voice of thunder the 
words, The just shall live by faith ! This was 


* Mathesius, Predigt. I, 6. 

f Near the church of St. John Laterna may to this day 
be seen the Santa Scala, or Holy Stairs. It consists of 
twenty-eight well used steps of white marble, on which the 
Lord Jesus is said to have ascended to the house of.Pilate. 
At the present time no one is allowed to ascend except upon 
his knees, but for every step he crawls he receives three 
years absolution. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


39 


a text which was present to his mind during 
the whole journey, but it was only later that 
he was able to see its full import. 

He also visited all the temples and crypts to 
which there was any special sanctity attached. 
He says of himself: “At Rome I was a very 
stupid saint; I went to all the churches and 
sacred places, and believed every lying story 
that was told me concerning them.” All this 
plainly shows the standpoint which Luther 
yet occupied at that time. 

But we can easily conceive how offensive to 
his tender conscience it must have been when 
he heard several prelates sportively saying at a 
certain meal, that they were accustomed to 
consecrate the cup and the host with the 
words, Panis es et panis manebis, vinum es et 
vinum manebis (Thou art bread and wilt 
remain bread, thou art wine and wilt remain 
wine). 

The ostentatious display of the Pope Julius, 
who appeared in a procession “ with splendidly 
caparisoned stallions,” on the foremost of 
which he carried the monstranze,* excited his 

* The pyx, or splendid box, in which the consecrated 
wafer is kept. 



40 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


profoundest amazement. He here observed a 
magnificence which exceeded all that his 
imagination had ever conceived. Besides this, 
dissoluteness, licentiousness, fraud, robbery and 
murder, almost universally prevailed, as well 
as a most deplorable ignorance of everything 
that concerned religion and the Church. The 
watchword of the pope and of the priesthood 
was “money, only money!” and a disgraceful 
traffic in all sacred things was openly carrigd 
on.* 

With all these things apparent to him, 
Luther must soon have come to the conclu¬ 
sion that Rome, which he had regarded as the 
seat of piety and morality, was really the seat 
of irreligion and hypocrisy, and which men 
took no particular pains to deny. And yet at 
this time he was captivated by the doctrines 
of the papacy, as we have seen above, although 
he longed after something better, of which the 
spark had already been awakened in the 
cloister at Erfurt. In deep dejection, after a 
brief sojourn, he left the degenerate capital of 
the Christian world; but he brought back with 


* Sed homines indoctissimos Romae inveni, qui me plus 
offendebant quam cedifiabant. Lindner Leben Luthers, p. 36. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


41 


him all the truths which subsequently were 
the chief basis of his secession from the 
Church. It was the conviction, 

1. That Rome does not embrace within her¬ 
self the true, holy, Christian Church. 

2. That the Church of Rome, by the mere 
external character of her religion, does not 
only leave unmoved the hearts of most men, 
but on this very ground becomes a school of 
hypocrisy; and 

3. That the sanctity imputed to the pope, is 
an open and shameful deception. 

This conviction must also be cherished now, 
when this fraud, by the recognition of an infal¬ 
lible pope, has become still more flagrant. 

And yet at this time it never occurred to 
Luther’s mind in any way to oppose the 
Church, although her degradation deeply 
pained him and incited him to labor at least 
for the promotion of true piety, and for the 
purification of the faith from the bombast of 
an absurd and distorted scholastic theology. 

With reference to his return, all we know is 
that he stopped here and there at various 
cloisters, without any certainty that he pur¬ 
sued precisely the same route homewards. 


42 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


It is only of his sojourn in Augsburg (1511) 
that we have any certain information. Here 
he met a young woman named Ursula, who 
professed to live by the total abstinence from 
food and drink. Although she had deceived 
some intelligent and influential people, and 
gathered a considerable amount of money, her 
trick was finally exposed in an appointed 
interview with Luther. 

He expresses himself highly delighted with 
his tour through Suabia and Bavaria, and 
speaks in exalted terms of the hospitality and 
honesty of the people. 

After melancholy experience and numerous 
severe trials, Luther arrived at Wittenberg in 
1511, and immediately resumed his scholastic 
duties. 

JOURNEY TO LEIPSIC AND OTHER PLACES. 

1512-1518. 

Tour of Visitation. 

When Staupitz, who aimed at Luther’s pro¬ 
fessional promotion, had him honored with the 
title of Doctor of Theology at the expense 
of the Elector, Luther protested and said: 
“ Doctor, you will kill me; I shall not be able 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


43 


to stand it for three months.” When he 
finally consented, after repeated solicitation 
and earnest pleading, he was sent to Leipzig 
to draw the money necessary to pay the 
expenses of the doctorate. He was there 
detained so long by the paymaster, that he 
would have gone away without the money, if 
his monastic vow had not compelled him to 
submit in patience. In the receipt he gave, he 
mentions Pfeffinger and John Dolzigk as those 
who paid him the money.* 

On October 19, 1512, the degree of Doctor 
of Divinity was conferred upon him by 
Andreas Badenstein (Carlstadt) with impos¬ 
ing ceremonies, after having been nominated 
Licentiate of Theology on the 4th of October 
previously. 

Although Luther had invited the Augus- 
tinians at Erfurt to these solemnities, they 
were much displeased that Erfurt had not the 
credit of conferring the distinction. Hence he 
wrote a Latin letter to them on the 16th of 
January, 1514, in which he said that whilst he 
had received the “baccalaureatum in sententiis ” 


* De VVette, i. 2. 



44 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


at Erfurt, yet he did not bind himself not to 
accept of a higher degree from any other 
place, and that if the convent had felt disposed 
not to sanction it, they had it in their power 
to prevent it. 

In order to appease the minds of the 
brothers, he went to Erfurt in 1515, where 
he preached in the cathedral on the text, 
“Sinners are justified without works.” We 
learn from this, that this doctrine had now 
acquired a stronger hold upon his mind, 
although not unaccompanied with severe 
mental struggles. As early as 1516, in a 
letter to George Spalatin, of April 7, he gave 
a clear exhibition of the doctrine of justifica¬ 
tion by faith. 

During this year, Luther made several 
visitation tours under the direction of Dr. 
Staupitz, to the cloisters in Meissen and 
Thuringia. The first place which he visited 
on this business, was Grimma, which fact is 
recorded in the local chronicles of that town. 
For his traveling companions he had 
Dr. Staupitz, who was on his way to the 
Netherlands in search of relics, and Dr. Wen- 
ceslaus Lingke. On this occasion, Dr. Staupitz 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


45 


communicated the fact that the pope had sent 
a learned man, named John Tetzel, to Wurzen, 
who proclaimed the following indulgence 
couplet: 

Soon as the money in the treasury sounds, 

So soon the happy soul to heaven bounds. 

Luther was excited to the highest degree at 
this intelligence, and declared, “ Now I will 
put a hole in his drum and he immediately 
began to write against Tetzel in the cloister at 
Grimma. It was the first flash of lightning, 
the harbinger of the approaching storm. 

The visitation of the monasteries was an 
agreeable occupation to Luther. In the ab¬ 
sence of Staupitz, forty of them were placed 
under his inspection. He took great pains in 
urging the monks to the study of the Bible, 
and exerted himself to the utmost in establish¬ 
ing good schools. “ Without schools,” he 
said afterwards, “ men become bears and 
wolves; things cannot remain as they are; 
hence we will go to work and become school¬ 
masters. If I were not a preacher, there is no 
position on earth I would prefer. But we 
must not regard the opinions of the world, 


46 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

but consider how God looks upon it and 
rewards it.” 

A second visitation tour was to Dresden, at 
the end of April of this year (1515), where 
there was a monastery of the order of 
Eremites. 

Luther solemnly warned the brothers not to 
confine their exclusive attention to Aristotle, 
Thomas Aquinas, and other philosophers, but 
diligently to use the Word of God, and not to 
seek for the forgiveness of sin and salvation in 
their own strength and works, but alone in the 
merits of Christ and his grace. That which 
Luther recognized as eternal truth, and what 
he believed to be the central point of the 
Gospel, was now to become the valuable pos¬ 
session of others. 

After he had finished his visitation work at 
both of these places, he made a tour to 
Thuringia. 

Towards the end of May, 1516, he came to 
Erfurt, where, according to his own acknowl¬ 
edgement, his principal business among others 
was the installation of Baccalaureus John 
Lange, a good Latin and Greek scholar, and 
besides a very worthy man, as Prior of the 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


47 


cloister. As Lange was a little too exacting, 
he admonished him to gentleness and patience. 
This man afterwards became a pastor in 
Erfurt, and for a long time carried on a 
familiar correspondence with Luther. 

He found the condition of affairs in Erfurt 
satisfactory, so that there was no occasion of 
remaining long in the place. 

He now continued his tour to Gotha, where 
he found everything in proper order. The 
discourse he delivered there, he sent to Lange 
(August 30), and requested him to show it to 
other friends. 

On his departure from Gotha, he wrote to 
Conrad Mutianus Rufus, Doctor of Law and 
Canon at Gotha, apologizing for not calling 
upon him, and at the same time for not invit¬ 
ing him to his own lodgings. 

After a brief sojourn of an hour at Gotha, 
he proceeded to Salza, or Langensalza, where 
he had the same reason to be gratified with 
the condition of the monastery as at the 
former place. 

After remaining here two hours, he pro¬ 
ceeded to Nordhausen, where he preached in 
the Augustinian monastery, and exhorted the 


48 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

monks to the reading of the Scriptures and a 
pious life. 

He also visited Sangerhausen, where he 
found the cloister in disorder. Thence he 
went to Eisleben, where there was also occa¬ 
sion for censure; and adds in a letter to Lange 
that because of the sickness of some of the 
brothers and the absence of others, there were 
only five officiating priests present. 

It was about this time (August, 1516,) that 
we hear of his having been to Magdeburg by 
invitation of the Prior of the Augustinian 
cloister, who bitterly complained of the dis¬ 
orders in his establishment, and begged Luther 
to come and help him to sustain his authority 
by his counsel and discipline. 

After Luther had now faithfully discharged 
the duties of Inspector in the place of 
Dr. Staupitz, he returned from Magdeburg to 
Wittenberg towards the beginning of June, 
after an absence of five or six weeks. He 
writes to Spalatin, June 8, 1516: “Dearest 
Spalatin, your kind wishes have been fulfilled, 
and by God’s grace, I have returned in good 
health in body, at least.” 

His experience during this tour, and the ap- 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


49 


pearance and operations of Tetzel, made a 
very unfavorable impression upon his mind, 
but they acted as an incentive to prosecute the 
work already begun with renewed courage 
and zeal. 

On a subsequent occasion, when Dr. Stau- 
pitz entered upon a still longer journey, Luther 
was again commissioned to act as his substi¬ 
tute. 

He now visited Himmelspforta, near Werni- 
gerode, and Kemberg. No doubt it was upon 
the usual business of the visitation, but that is 
not anywhere specifically mentioned. 

During this year (1516) Luther was not 
only most diligently engaged in delivering 
lectures to the University classes, in preaching 
and writing, but as we have seen, he was also 
usefully employed abroad. He introduced 
discipline into disorderly convents ; he faith¬ 
fully preached the gospel to the monks; he 
enforced the morality of the New Testament 
in a style which they had never heard before; 
he removed abuses and reformed irregularities. 
“ He was,” says Tenzel, “ a man of incredible 
labor, sometimes forgetting food and sleep for 
several days.” 

5 


D 


50 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


In the following year, 1517, we also observe 
him extending the sphere of his activity and 
building up the work already begun, in addi¬ 
tion to his duties as preacher and professor at 
home. That which he himself recognized as 
true, he was resolved should also find a fruit¬ 
ful soil in others. Hence, he did not object to 
appear before Duke George in Dresden, who 
had himself proposed this interview at the sug¬ 
gestion of Staupitz. The Duke was anxious 
to hear Luther preach. He appeared at the 
designated time, and preached on St. James’ 
day (July 25) in the presence of the Duke in 
the Castle Church, “ On the idle desires of 
men and the certainty of salvation,” in a man¬ 
ner at once bold and thoroughly evangelical. 
Although he did not secure the approbation 
of the Duke, who subsequently became his 
bitter opponent, and besides was compelled to 
hear severe reproaches from his enemies, yet 
this sermon made a deep impression on others, 
and gained their hearts for Luther. The 
truth alone concerned him, and in the promul¬ 
gation of it he was perfectly uninfluenced by 
the opinions of princes or potentates. 

During his sojourn here, he was entertained 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


51 


at the house of Jerome Einser, who subse¬ 
quently became his opponent, who was secre¬ 
tary and councillor of the Duke. John Lange 
and the Prior at Dresden were guests at the 
same time, and on this occasion he engaged in 
a violent disputation with a Leipzig Master of 
Arts and Science, as he himself informs us in 
his Table Talk. 

At the end of this year, we find Luther at 
Kemberg. He says, “ When we came to 
Kemberg after All Saints’ Day, we were much 
depressed; and when I had determined to write 
against indulgences, Dr. Jerome Schurf* op¬ 
posed me and said, “Will you again write 
against the pope? What will you do? People 
will, not bear it,” to which I replied, “ How 
will it be if they are compelled to bear it ?” 

The great event of his early career was now 
about to transpire. That which lay heavily 
upon his heart ever since his sojourn at 
Grimma, which he had resolutely opposed in 
the confessional and in the pulpit, and which 
in his simplicity he had brought to the notice 


* Schurf was Professor of Law at Wittenberg, and after 
this became a vigorous promoter of the Reformation, and 
boldly sustained Luther at the Diet of Worms. 



52 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


of the bishops of Meissen, Brandenburg, 
Raumburg, Merseburg, and of Albert, the 
Elector of Mayence, was now to become a 
public and established fact. On the 31st of 
October, 1517, he posted his ninety-five prop¬ 
ositions at the door of the Castle Church at 
Wittenberg, in which before all the world he 
proclaimed his opposition to the abomination 
of Indulgences. 

Of this event Mathesius says: 

“ By his audacious proceedings and scanda¬ 
lous language, the Indulgence-pedler Tetzel 
roused the righteous wrath of Luther, and 
forced him to put on the armor which God 
furnishes his intrepid warriors. He seized the 
sling of David and the spiritual sword, which, 
is fervent prayer and the pure word of God y 
and emboldened by his oath of office to teach 
and defend the uncorrupted Gospel, he vigor¬ 
ously attacked the Romish Indulgence system 
in the name of God, and boldly declared that 
this traffic was a dangerous and soul-destroy¬ 
ing delusion.” 

“To hope for salvation from these Indul¬ 
gence certificates is a lying fiction, even if the 
chief commissioner, yea, the pope himself, 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 53 

were to pledge his soul as security.” (Thes. 

52). 

These propositions secured such general 
approbation, that in two weeks they were cir¬ 
culated throughout all Germany, and in the 
course of a month they had reached every 
portion of Christian Europe; as though, in the 
language of an old historian, “ the angels 
themselves were the messengers who bore 
them upon their wings to all the people.” 

5 * 


v 



CHAPTER II. 

1518 — 1522. 

JOURNEYS TO ALTENBERG, LEIPZIG, HEIDELBERG, 
AUGSBURG, EULENBERG, LICHTENBERG 
AND KEMBERG. I 5 I 8. 

I N the beginning of the year 1518, we find 
Luther in Leipzig, as is shown by the let¬ 
ter of January 7th, which he wrote from there 
to Spalatin. He sends to him the contro¬ 
versial tract of Sylvester Prierias, who was a 
Dominican, a Professor of Theology and 
Master of the Holy Court at Rome. It was 
his duty in this position to examine all publi¬ 
cations, and he had undertaken to refute the 
ninety-five propositions of Luther. Luther 
requests Spalatin to return the tract without 
delay, and to consult with his friends whether 
they would advise him to reply to it? 

Although, according to a letter of January 
18, (1518) he imposed silence upon himself in 
( 54 ) 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


55 


this affair, yet he did not adhere to his resolu¬ 
tion, for in the ensuing August an answer was 
published. 

During his stay in Leipzig, he was visited 
by Jerome Emser, who assured him that he 
took no part in the defamation which Luther 
endured on account of the sermon which he 
had preached before Duke George at Dresden. 
Luther mentions this fact in a letter to Spalatin 
of January 14. 

We are not aware of the occasion which 
induced him to go to Leipzig at this time; 
perhaps it was to have an interview with Me- 
lanchthon, who at certain periods visited that 
city. It may have been for recreation from 
his severe and unremitted labors, which no 
man required more than he, for with untiring 
industry he pursued his heaven-appointed 
work, and a day’s familiar intercourse with his 
friends was absolutely necessary to refresh 
him for further exertions and persevering toil. 

But much more important was his journey 
in this year to Heidelberg, which he had pre¬ 
viously visited on his tour to Rome. He was 
invited to take up his abode at the convent 
of the Augustinian order. • He was warned 


56 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


against this course by his friends, who appre¬ 
hended danger, but he would not be dissuaded 
from carrying out his purpose. That he was 
not unaware of the peril, appears from a letter 
which he wrote to John Lange on March 21, 

(1518). 

“ The Indulgence-pedlers,” he writes, “ pub¬ 
licly threaten that before the lapse of two 
weeks or a month, I shall be burned. Hence 
all my friends advise me not to go to Heidel¬ 
berg, so that my enemies may not accomplish 
by stratagem and treachery what they cannot 
do by force. But I will go, and travel on foot; 
but do not wait, for I will scarcely set out be¬ 
fore the 13th of April.” 

Probably he started upon this tour a few 
days earlier, for he had already arrived in 
Coburg on Thursday. The Elector, Frederick 
the Wise, his eminent patron, sent an escort 
(Urbanus) with him, who had express orders 
to accompany him as far as Wurzburg. 

The first place he mentions after Coburg is 
Weissenfels, where, as he himself gratefully 
acknowledges, he was received and hospita¬ 
bly entertained by a clergyman before un¬ 
known to him. From this place he proceeded 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


57 


probably to Erfurt, where Dr. Staupitz appears 
to have joined him, and to have accompanied 
him to Judenbach, where he was kindly 
treated by Pfeffinger,* to whom Spalatin had 
given him a letter of introduction. 

From Judenbach he proceeded to Coburg, 
where he arrived on April 15, completely 
exhausted, for he had made this tour on foot. 

Although he was sorely fatigued, for he 
found no opportunity of riding, he set out 
again next day, and traveled as far as Wurz¬ 
burg, where he arrived on the 18th. 

On the same evening, he delivered to the 
bishop, Laurence von Bibra, who was held in 
high esteem, the letter of recommendation 
which the Elector had given, and he met with 
a very friendly reception. 

The bishop, who was not unfavorably dis¬ 
posed to the Lutheran doctrine, offered to 
send an escort with him to Heidelberg at his 

* A Bavarian nobleman, who accompanied 1 the Elector 
Frederick to the Holy Land, in 1493, and became his 
Chamberlain and Councillor. The Elector esteemed him 
highly, and deeply regretted his death, in 1519. Luther 
said of him : “ He can spin good wool, but no good cloth 

comes of it.” 



58 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


own expense. Luther positively declined this 
generous offer, but, instead of that, he re¬ 
quested a passport, which he received on the 
next day. He now sent back to Wittenberg 
the faithful “ Urban,” whom the Elector had 
furnished as an escort, and, on April 19, with 
Dr. Staupitz and John Lange, the latter of 
whom he met as a guest in the Augustinian 
monastery at Wurzburg, he left that city in a 
carriage. They probably arrived at Heidel¬ 
berg on April 21. 

On his arrival, he delivered the letter which 
the Elector had given him to the Count Pala¬ 
tine Wolfgang, who was also Duke of Bavaria.* 
He was kindly received by the Count, as well 
as by Magister Jacob Simler, and the Steward 
of the .Court, Hase. 

Soon after his arrival, he was invited, with 
Dr. Staupitz and John Lange, to the table of 
the Count. The latter afforded him and his 
associates every opportunity of visiting and 
inspecting all the curiosities of the city, as well 
as the court chapel, the armory, and the royal 
palace. Jacob Simler thus expressed himself 

*The Count had studied at Wittenberg, and had been 
Rector of the University in 1515. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


59 


to Luther in relation to the letter of the 
Elector to the Count: “You have before God 
a Christian credential! ”—which was probably 
a special allusion to the contents of the Elec¬ 
tor’s letter to the Count, in which the errors 
of the Romish Church on Free Will, Grace, 
Faith, Justification, and Good Works, were 
refuted. 

Luther took up his quarters in the Augusti- 
nian convent, where he, as was customary at 
the meetings of the order, held a disputation, 
and had Leonard Beyer as respondent. It 
consisted of twelve theological and twelve 
philosophical theses, or so-called paradoxes , 
because they were unknown to most persons, 
or appeared contradictory to them. The dis¬ 
putation began on the 26th of April, in a great 
crowd of students, courtiers, and citizens. The 
following learned theologians were also pres¬ 
ent: Martin Bucer, John Brentius, Erhard 
Schnepfsius, and Theobald Villicanus (Gerlach 
von Bullingheim). The theses were all di¬ 
rected against Aristotle. Luther thus ex¬ 
pressed his satisfaction with the Heidelberg 
theologians in a letter to Spalatin: “ These 

gentlemen theologians cheerfully engaged with 


6o 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


me in the disputation, and contended with me 
so modestly and kindly, as to excite my pro- 
foundest esteem for them. For though my 
theology appeared new to them, they opposed 
me skillfully and sharply, except one.” That 
one was probably George Niger, who said of 
the contest: “ If the peasants heard that, they 
would stone you to death.” 

That Luther made a profound impression 
upon the Count, appears from the reply which 
he wrote to the Elector, where he says: 

“ He (Luther) displayed such extraordinary 
skill and acuteness in the disputation, that he 
reflected no small credit upon your university; 
much praise was also awarded to him by 
many learned men. Bucer especially lauded 
him by writing that he excited the astonish¬ 
ment of everybody by the remarkable grace¬ 
fulness of his replies, the incomparable patience 
with which he listened to his opponents, and 
his Paul-like acuteness in the brief and Scrip¬ 
tural solution of their objections.” * 

We here learn to recognize qualities in 
Luther which his enemies often deny him; he 


*Tenzel, Bericht Th., i. 331. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


61 


presents a picture to our view which cheers 
the heart. Furnished with the armor of faith, 
and having put on the shield of righteousness, 
he stands upon the firm foundation of the holy 
Scriptures, whose spirit has pervaded his 
whole nature; and from this basis he securely 
resists all the attacks of a false doctrine which, 
founded on mere human merit and self-right¬ 
eousness, knows nothing of justification by 
faith. By this faith alone he secured peace for 
his own soul, and which he would with all 
diligence secure for others. From Heidelberg 
the report of his extensive theological acquire¬ 
ments spread beyond the narrow confines of 
the country, and rendered him still better 
known among those who as yet stood far 
aloof from him. 

HIS RETURN FROM HEIDELBERG TO WITTENBERG. 

After Luther had contended so boldly and 
successfully at Heidelberg for the Gospel, 
against the scholasticism of his time and the 
errors of Rome, he entered upon his return on 
the first of May {1518). As traveling by foot 
was too fatiguing, he accepted an invitation to 
ride from some Nurnberger brothers of his 


62 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


order who were traveling to Wurzburg. 
From this place he rode with some Erfurt 
brothers to Erfurt, from which some friends 
from Eisleben conveyed him at their own 
expense to Wittenberg. Jodocus Trutvetter 
had previously written him a letter, in which 
he severely reproved him for publishing his 
theses. Before Luther departed from Erfurt, 
he wished to have an interview with him, but 
was turned away by the servant, under the 
pretext that Jodocus was suddenly taken sick. 
On May 9, he wrote to him, and did not fail 
to make a vigorous defence of the theses, 
whilst he hurls back the reproach that he gave 
occasion to the burning of Tetzel’s theses, at 
the same time protesting that he would take 
no part in the controversy of J. S. Egranus. 
This letter had such an effect upon Jodocus, 
that he invited him to an interview. The 
latter acknowledged that he could neither 
refute Luther nor maintain his own accusa¬ 
tions. 

After this episode, he departed in company 
with the Eisleben Augustinians, probably on 
the loth of May. When he had arrived at 
Eisleben, the Prior of the convent had him 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


63 


conveyed to Wittenberg, which he reached on 
the Saturday before Ascension Day, much 
better in health than when he set out. 

He now resumed his usual activity, and had 
reason to rejoice at the seed scattered in the 
Palatinate, which soon began to yield the 
most promising fruit. He also soon found oc¬ 
casion to defend the propositions he had laid 
down in Heidelberg, especially against the 
assaults of Prierias and Dr. Eck. Even at 
this time the idea was far from him of sever¬ 
ing himself from the church of Rome; for he 
expressed all reverence and esteem for the 
pope, in saying, “ We are in duty bound, with 
all reverence, to acknowledge the authority 
and power of the pope; even though he would 
utter an unjust judgment, nevertheless we 
must humbly and patiently submit to it.” 

Whether in this declaration he can be un¬ 
derstood as recognizing the doctrine of papal 
infallibility, is to be questioned; for this as¬ 
sumption is so diametrically contrary to the 
Scriptures, that it would have found in Luther 
a fierce opponent, who appealed to the Scrip¬ 
tures in all his arguments. Besides this, he 
here speaks of an “ unjust judgment” of the 


6 4 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


pope, which would not he possible, if he were 
not, like other human beings, a fallible man. 

Luther here evidently alludes to the pope’s 
external authority. 

JOURNEY TO AUGSBURG. BEFORE CAJETAN. I 5 1 8. 

Pope Leo X. had until now not considered 
this monkish quarrel as dangerous, and had 
even spoken of the genius of Luther with 
commendation. It was only the restless im¬ 
portunity of the Dominicans that induced him 
to exercise his papal authority in several 
decrees. He imposed upon the new General 
of the Augustinians, Gabriel von Denedig, the 
duty of silencing Luther; and as this measure 
was fruitless, “ the obstinate heretic” was or¬ 
dered by Bishop Jerome von Askulan to make 
his appearance in Rome within sixty days. 
At the same time, Cardinal Thomas de Vio, of 
Gaeta (Cajetan), who at that time visited the 
Diet at Augsburg as the papal legate, received 
the order to secure Luther’s person, and to 
pronounce the ban upon all those who enter¬ 
tained or espoused his cause. The Emperor 
alone was excepted from this threat, for Leo 
had nothing to fear from him; for he (Maxi- 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


65 


milian) had already, from Augsburg, besought 
the pope to employ vigorous measures to sup¬ 
press the new heresy. 

As soon as Luther had received the citation 
to appear in Rome within sixty days to give 
an account of his doctrine before Jerome de 
Genutiis, Bishop of Ascold and Sylvester-Prie- 
rias, who had only declared Luther’s theses 
as heretical, he sent it on the 8th of August 
to Spalatin, who was at that time with the 
Elector at the Diet at Augsburg (not that of 
1530), and besought him to use his influence 
with the Elector to have the matter referred 
to a commission in Germany, for a journey to 
Rome was perilous. 

Spalatin was immediately directed in the 
name of the Elector of Saxony to write to 
the imperial minister Hans Renner, with the 
request to induce his imperial majesty to 
exempt Luther from personally appearing in 
Rome, and that he might be tried before some 
university in Germany that was not suspected 
of heresy. The Emperor Maximilian acceded 
to the request, and wrote to the pope in the 
same month; for he had already directed his 
attention to Luther at the Diet, which is evi- 
6 * E 


66 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


dent from the language which he addressed to 
the Electoral Councillor, Pfeffinger. 

“What is your monk doing? Verily his 
theses are not to be despised, and he will 
begin a pretty play with the priests.” Luth¬ 
er’s wish was gratified. 

Instead of being compelled to appear in 
Rome, the Cardinal Thomas de Vio or Caje- 
tan, who delayed for some time at Augsburg 
on account of the Diet, received a papal order 
dated August 23, according to which Luther 
was to be invited to Augsburg. 

As soon as Luther received this invitation, 
he was at once ready to go, although Dr. 
John Lange, who was then at Wittenberg, 
informed him that he was warned by Duke 
Albert not to allow him to leave Wittenberg. 
Staupitz even offered his services in securing 
a safe refuge for him in Saltzburg. 

But Luther would not be moved from his 
purpose, although he thought it expedient to 
procure a passport from the Elector. The 
Elector did not consider this necessary, but 
furnished him with several letters of recom¬ 
mendation to the Council, and to some per¬ 
sons of distinction in Augsburg. Although 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 67 

Luther, as he himself informs us, was aware 
of the peril attending this journey, yet he 
departed from Wittenberg on the 28th of 
September. He traveled on foot as far as 
Weimar, where the Electoral Court of Saxony 
then sojourned, and preached there on Sept. 
29. He lodged in the Convent of the Bare¬ 
footed Friars. On the festival of Michaelmas, 
he read early mass in the Convent, and after¬ 
ward preached in the Castle church. In rela¬ 
tion to this he writes to Spalatin on Dec. 21 : 
“The sermon I preached at Weimar, which 
you request, I have entirely forgotton except¬ 
ing one part, and that is, I am sure That I 
preached agreeably to the gospel against the 
hypocrites and boasters of their own right¬ 
eousness, of whom I know one in particular 
at that Court. But I shall see, and if any 
more of it should occur to me, I will send it 
to you; but you will yourself laugh at me as 
an unlearned bungler, as some of them there 
laughed at me, because I said nothing in my 
sermon of the angels.” The Superintendent 
of the Convent, John Kessner, thought he 
would alarm him by intimating that his inter¬ 
view with Cajetan, who was a very learned 


68 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


man, would surely result in his being burnt 
at the stake; but Luther cheerfully replied : 

“ I could bear stripes ; but fire would be too 
hot. Dear friend, pray God for me and his 
dear child Jesus, for the work is his, and not 
mine. If God maintains the cause for Christ, 
then it is maintained for me; but if he does 
not, then I cannot. But do you think that the 
Father will suffer the Son’s work to fail ? ” 

With a courageous heart he left Weimar on 
foot, after he had received letters of recom¬ 
mendation and traveling money from the 
Elector. The honor of God and of his Saviour 
alone animated his soul. 

After several day^he arrived at Nurnberg, 
where he met his friend Wenzel Link, who, 
after presenting him with a cowl, accompanied 
him to Augsburg, with an Augustinian monk 
named Leonhard. They traveled on foot until 
within three miles from Augsburg, when ex¬ 
cessive fatigue and indisposition compelled 
them to hire a vehicle. They arrived on the 
7th of October, and he immediately informed 
Cajetan, through Link, of his presence, after 
he had taken up his abode in the Augustinian 
convent. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 69 

Luther was ordered to appear before the 
Cardinal the next day, but as he had not yet 
received the passport which he had solicited 
from the Emperor, and as the patricians of 
Augsburg, especially Dr. Auerbach, advised 
him against it, he did not obey the summons, 
although at the beginning he was inclined to 
yield. He was again summoned, with the 
most sacred assurance that he had nothing to 
fear; but he delayed until the passport ar¬ 
rived, which was prepared on October u, and 
sent to the Councilor, through the imperial 
secretary, Count von Schaumburg. Now 
Luther no longer hesil^ed to appear before 
Cajetan. 

HIS TRIAL AT AUGSBURG AND RETURN HOME. 

It was on October 12, 1518, when Luther, 
under the protection of the Emperor and of 
the city of Augsburg, appeared for the first 
time before the plenipotentiary of the pope. 
Dr. Link and a brother of his order, at the 
same time his host, the prior of St. Anna, 
John Frosch, accompanied him. Several im¬ 
perial councilors, among whom were the 
Deacon of Trent, and Dr. Peutinger and the 


;o 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


electoral councilors who had arrived, Philip 
von Freilitzsch and Dr. Riihel, and Dr. Stau- 
pitz, who had come from Saltzburg, were 
present at the trial and interview. 

Although Luther appeared before Cajetan 
in deep reverence and humility, which he 
showed by casting himself at his feet, Riihel 
expressed this most favorable opinion of him : 
“ He displayed the skill of a master in defend¬ 
ing his positions, much more adroitly and 
logically than was agreeable to the persons of 
rank who surrounded the legate, which pleased 
Philip von Freilitzsch and myself above meas¬ 
ure.Ther^is no person here who 

would be bold enough to hold a disputation 
with Dr. Luther.” 

The Cardinal demanded three things from 
Luther: I. Recantation of his published erro¬ 
neous doctrines; 2. Total forgetfulness of 
them; and especially 3. The promise not to 
disturb the peace of the Church again by any 
acts whatever. 

Luther would not consent to any recanta¬ 
tion, unless he should be refuted by the Holy 
Scriptures, which he regarded as a powerful 
bulwark against error and his own highest 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 71 

authority, to which the pope himself, and 
princes and kings, must submit themselves. 
They parted in not very good temper with 
each other, after Luther had requested a short 
time for reflection. 

The next day, Luther, accompanied by four 
clerical councilors, among whom Dr. Conrad 
Peutinger, besides the two electoral councilors 
named above, and Dr. Staupitz, again repaired 
to the Cardinal and handed to him a protest 
in the Latin language, in which he indeed 
acknowledged obedience and veneration to the 
universal Church, but at the same time sol¬ 
emnly declared that he could not retract, be¬ 
cause he regarded all his positions as true , in 
conformity to Christian doctrine , and proper. 

When Luther in the interview of the pre¬ 
vious day had asserted that he was not con¬ 
scious of holding any errors, the Cardinal 
mentioned two that he should recant; one 
was that he had taught that the merits of 
Christ were not the treasury out of which the 
indulgence-preachers could sell the forgive¬ 
ness of sins, and the other that he who would 
go to the Lord’s Supper must necessarily be¬ 
lieve, and be assured, that his sins were for- 


72 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

given.” As Luth£r had in these instances 
supported his ground by the Scriptures, so 
was it also in the protest which he delivered 
on the second day. Cajetan laughed at it, 
and advised him to recant. Luther promised 
a written reply. 

Although his friend and patron, Dr. Stau- 
pitz advised him to yield to some extent, 
because Luther had said to the Cardinal they 
had disputed long enough the day before; yet 
he would not act against his convictions. 

After an unprofitable exchange of words 
and agreement upon subsequent interviews, 
the meeting was broken up, and on Oct. 14, 
he appeared for the third and last time with 
the clearest proofs, that the merits of Christ 
were not the treasury of indulgences , and that 
faith was essential to a worthy participation of 
the Lord's Supper—that he could not and 
woidd not recant until he zvas taught out of 
the Holy Scriptures that these positions were 
false. 

Cajetan again pronounced his condemnation 
upon everything Luther had maintained, and 
renewed his demand of recantation. Luther 
now became excited. In a violent tone, and 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


73 


entirely forgetting with whom he was speak¬ 
ing, he exclaimed: “ I cannot recant, I will 7 iot 
recant , witil I shall be better informed; I can¬ 
not deviate from the Holy Scriptures .” 

The Cardinal dismissed him, with an order 
not to make his appearance again. Cajetan, 
on the afternoon of the same day, sent for 
Staupitz and Link, and implored them to induce 
Luther to recant. The latter begged the pri¬ 
vilege of another interview for Luther, but the 
Cardinal replied: “ I do not want any further 
conversation with that wild beast, for he has 
deep piercing eyes, and singular ideas flit 
through his brain.” When Staupitz the next 
day reported to the Cardinal that he could not 
prevail on Luther to recant, Cajetan yielded to 
some extent, and asked for a recantation only 
as far as indulgences were concerned; but 
Luther would not consent even to this, on con¬ 
scientious grounds. Instead of submitting, he 
prepared a document with the aid of Dr. Auer¬ 
bach, a jurist of Leipzig, in which he appealed 
to the pope for justice, at the same giving the 
“wrongly informed” head of the church a true 
account of the controversy. This document 
was drawn up in the Carmelite monastery, ac- 
7 


74 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


cording to legal form and order, and two days 
after Luther’s departure it was publicly nailed 
up on the principal door of the cathedral, in 
presence of notaries and witnesses. Thus 
Catejan accomplished nothing in his interviews 
with Luther. 

Amid all the tribulations and difficulties 
which he endured at Augsburg, there was still 
an admixture of enjoyment; for by his inflex¬ 
ible firmness, he gained many friends and 
supporters, as Spalatin reports ; “ Many favors 
were conferred upon Dr. Martin at Augsburg, 
particularly by his host, the prior of our Con¬ 
vent of the Brothers of our Dear Lady, also 
by Hans Schenken, Dr. Peutinger, Cristoph 
Langermantel, Dr. Auerbach, from the bro¬ 
thers Adelmann, canons of the Cathedral at 
Augsburg, D. Ambrosius and Ulrich Young, 
brothers, all of whom showed him many acts 
of kindness and of fellowship.” The popu¬ 
larity of Luther at Augsburg, may have been 
the ground why Cajetan did not fully carry 
out the instructions which the papal brief en¬ 
trusted to him. It is expressly stated therein, 
“ When you have got Dr. Luther in your 
# power, you will carefully guard him until you 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 75 

have received orders from us to present him 
before the apostolic chair. ” 

It was really then no inconsiderable peril in 
which Luther was placed, in the encounter 
with such a formidable opponent. 

As Luther received no answer to his appeal, 
he took leave of his unskillful judge. Through 
the agency of Menzel Link, he begged permis¬ 
sion to depart; he also sent the prior of Pome- 
sau to the Cardinal, and as no attention was 
paid to his requests, he wrote another letter to 
the Cardinal, in which he bids him farewell, 
and among other things says, " Your fatherly 
goodness has had abundant proof of my obe¬ 
dience in undertaking so long a journey to 
come here, accompanied as it was with no 
slight danger, besides suffering as I am from ill 

health and poverty of purse.” *. It is my 

purpose not to spend any more time here in 
vain, which, indeed, I am not able to do. My 
money is exhausted, and I have too long 
imposed upon the hospitality of my dear 
brethren, the Carmelites, to whom I have be¬ 
come a burden.In God’s name, I will 

* The Elector, it seems, only furnished him with money for 
the journey, and not for a protracted stay. 





76 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


now leave, and will see where I may find an¬ 
other place to abide.” 

He had the more reason to think of leaving, 
as Dr. Staupitz and Dr. Link had already left 
for Nurnberg by different ways, as they had 
been informed by good friends that the Car¬ 
dinal had sent Luther’s answer to the pope, 
and there was reason to fear that they would 
all be taken into custody. 

Luther delayed for a little time in Augs¬ 
burg, as he himself states in his letter to the 
Elector, “ I remained over Saturday—stayed 
the following Sunday—yea, even Monday and 
Tuesday; as no directions were given me, and 
this protracted silence awakened suspicion in 
the minds of all my friends that danger was to 
be apprehended, I sent in my appeal, and I 
left Augsburg on Wednesday, October 20.” 
The Councillor Cristoph Langermantel guided 
him out of the city through a small gate by 
night. Staupitz had provided a horse, and the 
Councillor a guide who was familiar with the 
road. 

Without the necessary accoutrements of a 
horseman, as Luther himself tells us, without 
stout riding pantaloons, without boots and 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


77 


spurs, he traveled forty miles the first day, and 
arrived at Mannheim so fatigued that when he 
dismounted he fell exhausted to the earth. 

After he had here recovered from his fatigue 
to some extent, he continued his journey to 
Nurnberg without any further anxiety. Here 
he received the above mentioned papal brief 
in a copy from Dr. Spalatin, which he after¬ 
wards published with notes. Of his journey 
from Nurnberg we only know, that about the 
20th of October, he met with Duke Albert at 
Grafenthal, between Coburg and Gotha. 

Of this he says, “At Grafenthal, Duke 
Albert, of Mansfeld, laid hold of me; he 
laughed at my riding habiliments, and he com¬ 
pelled me to be his guest.” 

After a tedious and tiresome ride he reached 
Wittenberg on the 31st of October, and on the 
evening of All Saints he reports to Spalatin, 
“ By God’s help I have this day arrived at 
Wittenberg safe and sound.” The Elector, 
who feared the displeasure of the pope, did 
not look favorably upon Luther’s return, as 
the latter himself writes on December 15, 
1518: “ The prince would have preferred not 
seeing me in my place here.” It would have 
7 * 


78 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. * 

been more agreeable to him, if Luther had 
concealed himself for some time. 

The apprehension of the Elector was not 
unfounded, for he soon received a letter from 
Cardinal Cajetan in which he appealed to his 
honor and his conscience, either to send Lu¬ 
ther to Rome, or to expel him from his do¬ 
minions and allow him to be stoned. But the 
Elector wished to avoid the necessity of ban¬ 
ishing him, and kindly considered a petition 
from the University in Luther’s behalf. And 
yet he feared the wrath of the pope. For this 
reason he arranged a meeting for consultation 
at the castle of Lichtenberg, between Luther 
and Spalatin. At the end of November they 
met there, and the question was discussed 
whether Luther should remain in Wittenberg 
or take up his abode at some other place. 

In a letter to the Elector, dated November 
19, he begs him not to send him to Rome, 
but states that he was ready to be exiled, so 
that his electoral master might not be brought 
into trouble. According to a letter of Novem¬ 
ber 25 to Spalatin, he is expecting an anath¬ 
ema from Rome, and has resolved to fly from 
Wittenberg, and to go forth “ like Abraham, 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


79 


not knowing where, yes, most certainly where, 
because God is everywhere.” This was also 
probably the idea which he expressed at Licht- 
enberg. As early as November 4, he had 
betaken himself to Eulenberg, it is likely on 
account of the same difficulty; but he did not 
meet Spalatin, and was obliged to return with¬ 
out having accomplished his purpose, until he 
found an opportunity at Lichtenberg to open 
his mind to Spalatin and declare his intention. 

On his return to Wittenberg a new cause 
of apprehension occurred, for he heard that 
Charles von Miltitz was in the vicinity. This 
man was descended from an ancient family of 
Meisson, was canon at Mainz, and minister 
and chamberlain of Pope Leo X. 

JOURNEY TO ALTENBERG.- 1 5 1 9. 

Before Charles Von Miltitz. 

Charles von Miltitz was expected to retrieve 
the errors, of Cajetan, and as papal chamber- 
lain seemed to be the proper man for the ser¬ 
vice. At the beginning of the year 1519, he 
repaired to Saxony for the purpose of treating 
with Luther, and to adjust the difficulty ami¬ 
cably, having received full authority from the 
pope. 


8o 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


Miltitz informed Spalatin of his intention, 
and on December 26 reported to him his 
arrival at Gera. From this place, towards the 
end of December, he proceeded to Altenberg 
and invited Tetzel, to whom he entrusted this 
business, to be present. The latter excused 
himself by saying that he could not appear on 
account of dangers which threatened him, for 
he had sunk so low in popular esteem that he 
had become a laughing stock to the common 
people and was openly insulted, so that he did 
not regard it as safe to leave his place of 
refuge, the Dominican convent at Leipzig. 

Nothwithstanding this, he did not escape 
the severe reproof of Miltitz, which so deeply 
mortified him that he was attacked with sick¬ 
ness from which he never recovered. Luther, 
influenced by the spirit of the gospel, sent him 
a consoling letter, in which he sought to cheer 
him in his distress. About this time Luther, 
in most respectful terms, was directed to ap¬ 
pear at Altenberg. What Cajetan had spoiled 
by his impetuousity, Miltitz, who treated him 
with the kindest consideration, tried to repair. 
He invited him to his table, and employed 
every species of flattery to gain his favor. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 81 

About the 5th of January, 1519, the examina¬ 
tion began in the residence of Spalatin, and in 
the presence of the Electoral Councillor of 
Saxony, Fabian von Feilitzsch. 

When Luther entered, Miltitz fell upon his 
neck, kissed him and said: “O, dear Martin, 
I thought you were an old, worn-out theolo¬ 
gian, who sat behind the stove and disputed 
with himself; but I see you are yet a fresh, 
young and vigorous man. If I had an army 
of 25,000 men, I would still not think myself 
able to take you out of Germany. For during 
my journey I everywhere inquired how the 
people were disposed towards you, and I ob¬ 
served that where there is one for the pope, 
there are at least three on your side.” 

He acknowledged at the same time that in 
one hundred years nothing had occurred which 
gave the Roman court more trouble, and that 
the pope would rather pay down 10,000 du¬ 
cats than that the affair should proceed fur¬ 
ther. 

In this interview, Miltitz was exceedingly 
polite and friendly, which Luther afterwards 
mentioned to Spalatin: “ In the evening at his 
table we enjoyed ourselves wonderfully well, 

F 


82 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


and after he (Miltitz) had kissed me, we sepa¬ 
rated; I behaved myself so as if I did not ob¬ 
serve this Italian flattery and dissimulation 
Luther distinctly recognized the wolf in 
sheep’s clothing, and yet he had influence 
enough to render Luther more mild; for the 
latter wrote after an interview with Miltitz the 
day before upon some articles of agreement, 
“ that he would in future keep silent , and zuriie 
to the pope and confess that he had been too vio¬ 
lent; and also declare in a public document that 
his theses should not be regarded as contradic¬ 
tions against the Church of Rome; finally, that 
this dispute should be referred to a German 
bishop for adjudication .” 

Soon after this declaration to the Elector, 
Luther wrote a second letter to his Highness, 
in which he briefly states the articles in which 
he and Miltitz agreed. 

The first point was, that both parties should 
be forbidden to preach about, write on or treat 
the subject in any way. In reference to the 
second point, Miltitz desired to prepare a brief 
of the transaction for the pope, and request 
the holy father to appoint some learned bishop 
to investigate the subject and to specify those 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 83 

articles which were erroneous and should be 
recanted by Luther. 

The promise which Luther made of writing 
to the pope was fulfilled on March 3, at Alten- 
berg. As Luther, after his interview with 
Miltitz, on January 10, returned to Wittenberg, 
as appears from a letter to Spalatin, he must 
again soon have gone back to the same place, 
as is evident from the letter addressed to the 
pope on March 3, and dated at Altenberg. 

The occasion seems to have been an inter¬ 
view with the Elector, as is probable from a 
letter by the latter to Miltitz of March 4. 

It is evident from both of these letters to 
the Elector and the one to the pope of March 
3, that he still cherished the most profound 
reverence for the pope and for the Church of 
Rome, and at that time entertained no idea of 
abandoning it. But to a recantation against 
his conscience, he would never submit. “ The 
papal power,” says he, “ I regard as an exter¬ 
nal ordinance, upon which, however, the sal¬ 
vation of the soul does not depend, inasmuch 
as Christ did not found his Church upon ex 
ternal visible power or authority, or upon any 
other temporal basis, but in internal love } hu - 


8 4 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


mility and unity ” * These are impressive 
words, which deserve serious consideration in 
these modern days. That he, at this time, 
already elevates the Church above the pope, 
and Christ above the Church and the pope, is 
expressly set forth in the words: “Yes, I 
freely declare that the power of this Church is 
above all, and that nothing in heaven or earth 
is above it except Jesus Christ , the Lord over 
ally Upon this foundation, which human au¬ 
thority and human doctrines sought to under¬ 
mine, there was destined gradually to rise a 
new edifice, whether Luther desired it or origi¬ 
nally designed it, in which the Word was to 
be recognized as the supreme authority, and 
Christ the true Shepherd. He who denies 
this basis, does not contribute to the progress 
of the work of the Reformation, but, as in 
those times, helps to shake it by promulgating 
the unevangelical doctrines of men. 

After Luther had returned to Wittenberg 
Miltitz had repaired to Trier, where he politely 

*At the Leipzig Disputation he expressed himself more 
decidedly upon the primacy of the pope, so that one stone 
after another fell from the ancient edifice and the erection 
of a new one became necessary. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


85 


invited Luther to visit him. The latter re¬ 
plied, with biting sarcasm, “ I have not time 
enough to spend upon such a long prome¬ 
nade.” He made another attempt to induce 
Luther to meet him at Coblentz; but Frederick 
the Wise, who, in consequence of Maximil¬ 
ian’s death, had become the administrator of 
the empire, would not allow him the privilege. 

It was the Elector’s design that the affair 
should be settled at Frankfort. Miltitz also 
soon changed his mind, and gave notice that it 
was unnecessary for Luther to go to Coblentz. 

When this storm had happily passed, an¬ 
other was visible in the horizon. Dr. John 
Eck was a conspicuous actor in the scenes 
about to be described. His real name was 
Mayer , and he was born in i486, in the 
Suabian village Eck y and according to the cus¬ 
tom of the times, assumed the name von Eck; 
but to distinguish him from John von Eck , a 
jurist and an official of the Elector of Trier, 
he was called simply Eck. He was a learned 
man, and taught theology at the University of 
Ingolstadt for many years with success. 

Luther awarded justice to his vast theolog¬ 
ical attainments, although he jocosely said of 
8 


86 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


him, ‘Ghat he skipped over God’s Word like a 
water-spider over the surface of the stream.” 

We now turn to Luther’s journey to Leip¬ 
zig, where he is to encounter a furious struggle 
with Dr. Eck. 

JOURNEY TO LEIPZIG, TO MEET DR. ECK IN A 
PUBLIC DISPUTATION.- 1 5 I9. 

A year before (1518) at Augsburg, Dr. Eck 
and Luther had agreed to hold a disputation 
at Leipzig. Eck, who was pro-chancellor of 
the city of Ingolstadt, and Inquisitor in Ba¬ 
varia and Franconia, had carried on a con¬ 
troversy with Andrew Bodenstein, of Carlstadt, 
in Franconia, canon and archdeacon in Wit¬ 
tenberg. Luther met Eck in Augsburg, and 
asked him whether he would not meet Boden¬ 
stein, also known as Carlstadt, in a discussion 
at Leipzig, for the final settlement of the ques¬ 
tion at issue between them. Dr. Eck, how¬ 
ever, thought it too small a matter to carry 
away the honors of a triumph over the com¬ 
paratively undistinguished Carlstadt; he ex¬ 
pressed a wish also to measure his strength 
upon the'yet unconquered Luther.* Previous 

*Sleidanus, 1 . i., p. 22, “Joannes Eckius, theologus ani- 
mosus et audax.” 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


87 


to this, Eck had published a book, which he 
called Obelisks, that is, Spears, in which he at¬ 
tacked Luther’s Theses on Indulgences in a 
malignant and virulent manner. But in his an¬ 
nouncement of the doctrinal points which were 
to be discussed at Leipzig, in which he at¬ 
tacked the University of Wittenberg, Luther 
felt himself challenged again to take up the 
controversy which had been nearly settled, 
although he felt disposed, as he was now forci¬ 
bly drawn out, the sooner the better to retire 
into obscurity, so far as it would be without 
prejudice to his honor as a Christian. Luther 
accepted the challenge, and immediately pre¬ 
pared some theses antagonistical to those of 
Eck, in which, with the most vigorous and 
overwhelming arguments, he assailed the sov¬ 
ereignty of the pope, which his opponents had 
exalted beyond all precedent. Although the 
Leipzig theologians, as well as the bishop of 
Merseburg, Adolphus, prince of Anhalt, to 
whose diocese the city belonged, did all in 
their power to prevent the discussion, yet the 
lord of the province, Duke George, by em¬ 
phatic and personal interference, and by order¬ 
ing the advertised prohibition to be torn down 


88 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


from the church doors, succeeded in bringing 
the disputation to pass. 

Dr. Eck, on February 19, challenged Luther 
to the disputation in these words: “ I have ap¬ 
pointed June 22d as the day on which we will 
commence the discussion. As Carlstadt is 
your champion, but you are the principal—for 
this reason it seems good to me that you 
yourself should appear at the place.” He ex¬ 
pected to distinguish himself particularly, be¬ 
cause he was already quite celebrated for the 
discussions he had held in Bologna and Vienna 
in 1515 and 1516. 

But Luther felt himself a match for his op¬ 
ponent, and in a written petition to Duke 
George, he begged permission to engage in 
the disputation, which was however denied 
him, as appears from a letter to Spalatin, dated 
February 16, in which he says : “ Duke George 
answered me twice and will not allow me to 
dispute, although I told him that Eck forces 
me both in letters and public advertisements to 
reply to him. I will now write to him the 
third time.” 

Notwithstanding this, a safe conduct* was 


* Government protection during a journey— 1 >. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


89 


denied to Luther, so that according to his own 
showing, he came to Leipzig not as a disputant 
but as a hearer. Yet Eck prevailed upon the 
Duke to permit Luther to enter the arena. 
Perhaps the Duke wished to enjoy the tri¬ 
umph of witnessing his discomfiture, in which 
however he was deceived, although many of 
Luther’s opponents claimed the victory for 
themselves. “For it mortified the Duke,” 
says Myconius, “ that the University of Wit¬ 
tenberg should gain such reputation, and that 
of Leipzig be depreciated.” 

Eck had arrived at Leipzig earlier, even be¬ 
fore the festival of Corpus Christi, and appeared 
in the procession together with the Leipzig 
theologians. This festival was celebrated on 
that day with great pomp. He was habited in 
sacredotal vestments and made a grand display, 
so that he might demonstrate his assurance of 
victory over the Wittenbergers in advance.* 

* In what follows, we make particular use of the narrative 
of Sebastian Froschel, at that time Magister in Leipzig, 
afterwards Deacon in Wittenberg, who witnessed the entrance 
of the Wittenberg theologians and was present at the dispu 
tation. See his book “Vom Konigreich Christi u. Seinem 
eigenen Priesterthume,” Wittenberg, 1566. 

Compare the author’s treatise on Sebastian Froschel in the 
8 * 



9° 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


On Friday before Corpus Christi (June 24) 
Luther also arrived in Leipzig, accompanied 
by Duke Barnim, of Pomerania,f Carlstadt and 
Philip Melanchthon. They drove in open ve¬ 
hicles through the Grimma gate, Carlstadt in 
advance, followed by Luther and Melanchthon. 
The Wittenberg students who had travelled with 
their teachers to Leipzig, walked by the side 
of the carriages, and were armed with spears 
and halberds. When they reached the gate 
which leads into St. Paul’s church-yard, Carl- 
stadt’s carriage broke down and he was pitched 
into the mud. Luther and Melanchthon drove 
past him. The people who saw this, said: 

This one (Luther) will conquer, the other 
(Carlstadt) will be overcome, as it has already 
happened ” (Froschel). On the Saturday after 
Corpus Christi, Dr. Emser also arrived. 

Zeitsclirift fur histor. Theologie von Dr. K. F. A. Kahnis, 
1872, 4tes Heft, p. 512. 

Unschuld. Nachr., 1717, p. 12. M. Jacobi Thomasii 
Orationes. Lips., 1683, “ De Disputatione Lipsiensi.” 

De Wette. Bd 1, vom 20 juli. 18 Aug an Spalatin. p. 
284, u. 306. 

Lingke, a. a. o. p. 61. 

f At that time student in Wittenberg and rector of the 
university. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 9 1 

Even before the public discussion began, the 
Wittenberg and Leipzig students had such 
violent conflicts in the taverns, that the land¬ 
lords were compelled to station armed men at 
their tables to maintain peace. A certain M. 
Baumgartner, who had travelled around with 
Tetzel and supported him in his trade of in¬ 
dulgences, became so terribly incensed against 
a Wittenberg student of noble rank on account 
of Luther, that it cost him his life. Froschel 
assisted in carrying-him to the grave. 

DISCUSSION AT LEIPZIG.- 15 I9. 

On Sunday after Trinity, June 26, all those 
who were to take part in the discussion assem¬ 
bled at the castle (Pleissenburg) where also the 
ducal commissioners, Caesar Pflug, Chancellor, 
Dr. John Kiichel, Private Secretary, and George 
von Niedebach, Castellan at Leipzig, had pre¬ 
viously repaired. In this meeting the condi¬ 
tions were established: 

1. Carlstadt was to speak first and then Lu¬ 
ther. 

2. That a correct report was to be made, and 
hence that they were to speak slowly; and 

3. That the transactions should not be 


9 2 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


printed until a decision should be pronounced, 
upon them. 

Eck proposed the pope and several universi¬ 
ties, as arbiters, but Luther unconditionally 
rejected the first and only consented to the 
latter after long resistance, and preferred an 
appeal to a general free Church Congress.* 

Luther, who was fully aware of the dishonest 
designs of his opponents, thus expressed him¬ 
self upon the approaching discussion, “ The 
affair was not begun in God’s name, and it will 
not end in God’s name.” On Monday, June 27, 
at 7 o’clock in the morning, the parties with 
their friends from Wittenberg and Ingolstadt 
met in the “ Large College.” As hearers, there 
were present the Duke himself with his Coun¬ 
cillors, the Magistrates, the Doctors and Bach¬ 
elors of the university, and an immense crowd 
of people from all the neighboring towns. 

The meeting was opened by Dr. Simon 
Pistorus, Ordinary of the Faculty of Law, with 
a ‘‘magnificent” Latin oration in the name of 
the University. After the conclusion of the 

* M. Vogel’s Leipzig, Annalen, p. 97 seq, Seckendorff a. 
a. o. 1., 1, and 54 seq., p. 72 seq. 

Loescher’s Acta Reform. Till. iii. Ivap. 8, u. g., p. 214. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


93 


speech, they proceeded by twos, a Leipziger 
and a Wittenberger together, to St. Thomas’ 
church, where chorister Rhaw,* with the as¬ 
sistance of the book-binder Herbipolis, and 
other vocalists, sang a mass of twelve voices. 

From the church they proceeded to the 
castle, where the Duke was not present,f but 
where the most distinguished members of his 
court, also young Barnim, of Pomerania, as well 
as many counts, abbots, knights, and people 
of all ranks, had previously assembled. There 
were also four citizens appointed, clothed in 
coats of mail, with their banners and weapons, 
to maintain peace and order as long as the dis¬ 
cussion lasted—that is, every morning from 7 
to 9, and in the afternoon from 2 to 5 (Froschel). 

The main business, however, was not yet 
begun; but there was first a Latin address 
made by the learned Peter Mosellanus (Peter 
Schade ), from Briittig on the Mosel, professor 
of the Greek language in Leipzig, in which he 
spoke of the true method of disputing theo¬ 
logical subjects, and exhorted the disputants to 

* Rhaw later was a printer in Wittenberg, where he pub¬ 
lished many of Luther’s works. 

f Others say he was present. 



94 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


moderation, love of the truth, reverence for the 
holy Scriptures, and to the confession of their 
convictions.* At the conclusion of the dis¬ 
course, chorister Rhaw and other musicians 
led in the singing of the hymn “ Veni Sancte 
Spiritus ” (Come, Holy Spirit), whilst all 
present reverently kneeled. 

As the discourse was full two hours long, so 
that the time of dinner had come, the session 
was terminated, and was opened again in the 
afternoon at 2 o’clock, with the same hymn 
upon which the discussion began. 

First, Dr. Carlstadt and Dr. Eck entered the 
lists, and commenced their disputation upon 
“ Free Will,” which was continued four days 
upon the same subject. After this, Luther 
disputed with Eck nine days upon Purgatory, 
Indulgence, Absolution, Repentance, and the 
Papal Primacy. The last subject was dis¬ 
cussed most violently, as Luther maintained 
that the Primacy could not be proved from the 
Scriptures, but was based on human rights 
and presumption, which must also now be 
admitted fully and truthfully. 

* Peter Mosellani Oratio de ratione disputandi praesertim 
in re theologica. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


95 


Luther expressed himself upon this subject 
so contrary to the general belief, that many 
present, and with them Duke George, were 
absolutely alarmed. 

As Luther during the disputation said to 
Eck, that not all the articles of Huss were 
heretical, the displeasure of the Duke was 
demonstrated by shaking his head. (Froschel.) 

After Luther had valiantly contended for 
nine days, Carlstadt renewed the disputation 
for two days; but there was no obvious result. 

Luther retired from the contest sooner than 
Carlstadt, who still continued it with Eck. A 
considerable number of learned men sur¬ 
rounded him. But in proportion as he was 
honored by these proofs of profound veneration 
by his friends, the wrath of his enemies was 
excited. Carlstadt finished the learned con¬ 
test with Eck, which exceedingly inflamed 
the minds of many, but which, upon the whole, 
resulted in nothing definite. 

luther’s reception in Leipzig, and the 
result. 

Both parties claimed the victory. 

The following deserves to be recorded con¬ 
cerning Luther’s sojourn in Leipzig: 


9 6 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


He was invited by Duke Barnim, with the 
sanction of Duke George, whose kindness and 
munificence he speaks highly of in a letter to 
Spalatin* on August 15, 1519, to preach on 
the 29th of June in the castle church, to which 
he consented. His text was Matt. xv. 13-20.*)* 
As soon as this was known in the town, the 
crowd became so great that he was compelled 
to preach this sermon in the spacious hall in 
which the discussion was held. The subject 
was “ Free Will, and the Power of St. Peter 
and of the Keys.” Pflug, who was absent at 
the time, declared upon his return, “ I wish 
Dr. Martin had spared his sermon for Witten¬ 
berg.” Luther was urged from many other 
parties to preach 'again, but it was not allowed 
him, while Eck had afterwards preached four 
times against him in different churches. 

Mosellanus, who wrote an account of the 
discussion, gives us a true picture of Luther 
when he says : J “ Martin is of medium height, 

* De Wette. Bd. 1. p. 299. 

•j* Hoffman’s Histoire von Leipzig, p. 123-130. The 
sermon was printed the same year, at Leipzig, by Wolfgang 
Stockel. 

J In a beautiful Latin letter to Bilibad Birkheimer, of 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


97 


and so emaciated by anxiety and hard study 
that you can nearly count his bones through 
his body, and yet vigorous and sprightly, and 
of a clear and elevated voice. He is so thor¬ 
oughly learned, and has such a familiarity 
with the Scriptures, that he can count every 
thing on his fingers. In his deportment he 
is courteous and social, and has nothing mo¬ 
rose and severe about him. In company 
he is cheerful, genial, always in good humor, 
and hopeful, so that it is hard to believe 
that this man can undertake these weighty 
enterprises without the divine help and sanc¬ 
tion.” 

Mosellanus could not have set him forth in 
stronger light, as he appeared at that time. 
In after years, his physical condition was 
changed, but his spirit always continued 
vigorous; and even in the severest sufferings 
his cheerful disposition never forsook him. 
He did not allow himself to despond even in 
Leipzig, although he was not altogether satis¬ 
fied with his reception, as plainly appears from 

Nurnberg. Comp. Chr. Fred. Junii compendium Secken- 
dorfiaum 1755. Book 1, p. 135, and Seckendorff Com. 
Hist, de Lutheranismo. T. N. p. 141. 

9 


G 



98 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

his own letters.* His numerous letters, recov¬ 
ered and published, are of great value. 

“ They,” (the Leipzigers) he says, “ neither 
salute us nor visit us, and treat us as their 
greatest enemies. They associated with him 
(Eck), clung to him, entertained him hospita¬ 
bly, invited him to their houses, took him out 
on pleasure excursions, presented him with a 
tunic, etc., and in a word, they tried to mortify 
us in every possible way. They did one thing, 
however, and that was, they made a present to 
us of some wine. Those who were on our side 
visited us secretly. Dr. Auerbach once invited 
us to his house—he was a man of very sound 
judgment; Pistor Jr., did the same ; the Duke 
also invited us there at the same time.” 

In his report to the Elector, he employs the 
following remarkable words : “ Some began to 
imagine that I carry a familiar spirit with me.” 

That such a report prevailed in Leipzig also 
appears from a letter which Eck wrote to 
the Elector of Saxony, in which he says: 
“ Whether Dr. Luther carries a familiar spirit 
with him, I know nothing about it, and no one 


*De Wette. Bd. 1. p. 284. Letter to Spalatin of July 
20, 1519, and to the same of Aug. 15. p. 290. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


99 


in Leipzig has ever heard me ascribe anything 
of the kind to him ; but this is true, that with 
a little string and small ring attached to one 
finger, he wore something, and this occasioned 
much talk among the people.” Probably 
Luther’s skill in disputation, in which he 
“ could count everything on his fingers,” gave 
rise to this tale. 

Even the monks at Leipzig, to whom this 
fable was probably not unknown, feared Lu¬ 
ther’s alleged spirit of divination. 

Froschel relates the following fact in rela¬ 
tion to it: 

“ During the celebration of Corpus Christi, 
Luther went into St. Paul’s Church, when the 
monks had the monstranz upon the altar of 
St. Dominic in the morning. As soon as they 
observed that Dr. Luther was in the Church, 
they snatched the monstranz and other sacred 
vessels from the altars, and hurried with the 
greatest speed into the sacristy.” * 

For the discouraging experience which Lu¬ 
ther had at Leipzig, he was compensated by 
some friends and supporters whom he found 

* Frceschel, A. S. O., Letters to Spalatin on July 20 and 
Aug. 15. De Wette, Bd. 1, pp. 284 and 290. 



IOO 


TOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


there. Among these was Pistoris the younger, 
mentioned above, who is to be distinguished 
from the senior, who was Doctor of Medicine 
and Ordinary of the Faculty of Law. It was 
the latter who opened the discussion, or rather 
the introduction to it, with a Latin discourse. 

An especially dear friend of Luther was 
Henry Stromeyer, of Auerbach, who had pre¬ 
viously made his acquaintance in Augsburg. 
He was Professor of Therapeutics, Dean of the 
Medical Faculty, Councillor, and owner of the 
house which was afterwards called “ Auer¬ 
bach’s Court.” 

Besides these, Dr. Breitenbach and Henry 
von Schleinitz were friendly to him. The 
latter was a Ducal Councillor. They invited 
Luther as a guest, and they gave other evi¬ 
dences of their friendly feelings. There were 
others upon whom he made favorable impres¬ 
sions, so that they soon held public discourses 
in his spirited style. Froschel mentions An¬ 
drew Comitianus, M. Reusch, M. Hegendorff 
and Mosellanus, the last of whom delivered 
lectures on the Epistle to the Romans. But 
among those who soon professed the evangel¬ 
ical faith, must be especially mentioned John 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 101 

Cellarius, Professor of Hebrew at Leipzig, who 
resigned his professorship, repaired to Wit¬ 
tenberg, and continued his studies under 
the direction of Luther, until he became a 
preacher in Frankfort-on-the-Main in 1522, 
and subsequently superintendent at Dresden. 
George Rhaw, the chorister in St. Thomas’ 
church mentioned above, resigned his office, 
went to Wittenberg, and there established a 
printing office, at which many of Luther’s 
works were printed. John Poliander also, who 
came to Leipzig with Eck, and had reported 
the disputation on Eck’s side, embraced the 
evangelical doctrine, which was also the case 
with Sebestian Froschel, magister and private 
teacher at Leipzig. The persecution which 
he endured he himself relates in the work re¬ 
ferred to below.* 

Many Leipzig students also went to Witten¬ 
berg, and many inhabitants of the same city 
abandoned the Romish faith, and connected 
themselves with some evangelical churches in 
the neighboring villages. On the other hand, 
Duke George, who previously had not been 


* Sebastian Froeschel’s eines Bekenners, Luthers, Leben. 
Leipzig, 1722. 



102 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

disinclined towards Luther, now became a 
sworn enemy of the Reformation. For when 
his courtiers observed that the truth was be¬ 
ginning to shine into his mind, they tried in 
connection with the Catholic priesthood to 
prevent this result, and to defame Luther, in 
which they unfortunately succeeded. 

We will now briefly speak of Luther’s return. 

RETURN TO WITTENBERG. 

The Catholic party has often reproached 
Luther for leaving Leipzig sooner than Carl- 
stadt; but he had good reasons for this course; 
for the discussion had properly been finished, 
as the reports distinctly show, in which it is 
said, “ On the 14th of July, at 7 in the morn¬ 
ing, Eck continued” (wider abreden). It must 
also not be forgotten that the discussion was 
really ended, and that Luther only appeared 
as second contestant. He had also been con¬ 
vinced that notwithstanding his superiority 
nothing would result from the* whole affair; 
hence he, tired of the discussion, would no 
longer have anything to do with Eck, and 
thought it most advisable to leave Leipzig. 
This also appears from the words which he 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


IO3 


wrote in relation to Eck. He says : “ I have 
already yesterday replied to the nonsense of 
the Doctor; for, like a ridiculous player on 
the harp, he always comes back to the same 
old hum-drum ; he has not touched the point 
in dispute. Thirdly, to-day he entirely ignored 
the holy Scriptures.” More Luther could not 
say in justification of his departure and his 
silence, inasmuch as further discussion under 
such circumstances could produce no good 
results. To all this must be added, that he 
had learned that Dr. Staupitz was in Grimma, 
as his letter to Spalatin of July 29 shows, and 
it must not be overlooked that Eck himself 
does not speak complainingly of the accusa¬ 
tions made to the Electors concerning Luther’s 
early departure, but thinks the reason was that 
Luther together with Carlstadt had requested 
the Duke to break up the discussion, because 
the university would suffer from their long 
absence, and that the strangers present would 
be put to too £reat expense by its longer con¬ 
tinuance.* 

There is another reason given by Mosellanus 


* Hall A. Th. xv. R. 1571. 



104 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

which should not be overlooked, and that is, 
that the expected arrival of the Elector of 
Brandenburg would necessitate the evacuation 
of the chamber at the castle (Pleissenberg) ; and 
yet it is very probable that this was merely a 
subterfuge to get rid of a subject from which 
they apprehended no happy results. Although 
Luther was not present at the valedictory ser¬ 
mon preached by John Lange, yet all due 
praise was awarded him for his learning, dis¬ 
crimination, boldness and firmness. 

According to the letter of July 20, he left 
Leipzig not directly for Wittenberg, but for 
Grimma, where he wished to consult Staupitz. 
He arrived in Wittenberg on July 19, where 
he was honored with a present of money by 
the Council, as appears from their proceedings 
of 1519. It is there said, ii. S. xlviii. seq.— 
“ to Dr. Martin, who was council and city 
preacher, and who has returned home from 
the discussion at Leipzig, Tuesday after Alexi ” 
(July 19).* His departure from Leipzig 
was probably on July 14. On the day follow¬ 
ing his arrival (July 20), he gave Spalatin a full 


Lingke a. a. O. S. 69. A. 10. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 105 

report of the contest, and among other things 
said, that although Eck exceeded Carlstadt in 
noise and vehement gestures, yet that he 
(Carlstadt) had admirably maintained all his 
positions, and had thoroughly refuted the argu¬ 
ments of his opponent, and that finally the 
cunning and unscrupulous Eck had yielded to 
all that Carlstadt claimed, against which he 
had before fought valiantly, and agreed with 
him in all points, although he falsely boasted 
that he had won Carlstadt to his opinions 
Subsequently he practiced a similar trick, as 
church history abundantly shows. 

luther’s journeys to lif.benwerde, pretzsch, 

TORGAU AND KEMBERG. 

/5/p and 1520. 

Miltitz gave himself no rest to gain Luther 
over to his side. Although his previous efforts 
relative to Trier and Cologne had failed, yet 
he was not deterred, but wrote to Luther on 
September 25, 1519, and begged him to grant 
him an interview of one day in Liebenwerde 
(near Wittenberg). On September 30, Luther 
informed the Elector of it, and told him that 
he had appointed Sunday, October 8, for this 


to6 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

meeting.* The Elector on the same day in¬ 
formed him by letter through Spalatin, that he 
had permission to comply with Miltitz’s re¬ 
quest. Luther felt himself compelled to leave 
for Liebenwerde, after a few days in company 
with his Prior (Staupitz), and a servant of one 
of the Wittenberger Councillors. They went 
by the way of Lochau (Onnaberg), where the 
Elector was then staying. He must have ar¬ 
rived at Liebenwerde on October 8, for the 
interview took place on Sunday Dionysius 
(October 9), for on October 10, Miltitz re¬ 
ported to the Elector: “ I inform your Elec¬ 
toral Grace that yesterday (October 9) I had 
an interview with his reverence (Luther), and 
discussed all things necessary.” 

It was the golden rose upon which the 
pope had placed all his hope of securing the 
co-operation of the Elector. Its costly bril¬ 
liancy and consecration by papal hands, he 
thought would be a tempting bait, and would 
lead the Elector to put down Luther. Fred¬ 
erick (the Wise) did not seem to understand 


*Lingke A. S. O. gives October 9, whilst De Wette ac¬ 
cepts October 8 as the correct date. Bd. 1. Letter of Sep. 

30, 1519- 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 10 7 

what a distinguished favor Leo was conferring 
upon him. He accepted the jewel at Alten- 
burg, not personally, but only through repre¬ 
sentatives, and the trifling thanks for this 
exalted gift was his permission for a new 
interview of the papal ambassador with Luther 
at Liebenwerde (October 8). Nothing new 
resulted from it, except that Miltitz, either out 
of prudence or because he could not outwit 
Luther, admitted the human origin of the 
papal supremacy. 

Luther made a report of the principal points 
of this interview to the Elector,* in which he 
stated that to the question, whether he still 
held to the affair settled at Altenburg, and 
would accept the bishop of Trier as judge, he 
answered, “ Yes,” upon which Miltitz replied, 
“that he had now executed the papal order, 
and would now return to Rome (domum).” 

The latter mentioned to the Elector, that 
Luther had consented to make a journey to 
the Elector of Trier; but Luther declared in a 
letter to Spalatin of October 13 (1519,) that he 
did not promise Miltitz to go to Trier, but 
only that he would consent to acknowledge 


*De Wette. Bd. 1. p. 243. 



108 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

the Elector at that place as judge of the con¬ 
test.”* He makes this same statement to the 
Elector on October 15, (De Wette, 1. 243) in 
which he gives the apprehension of war, the 
pestilence, and other events, as the reasons 
which would prevent him from making such a 
journey. 

Luther returned again by way of Lochau 
(Annaberg) for the purpose of giving an oral 
report to the Elector of his interview with 
Miltitz, at Liebenwerde. His stay at Lochau 
was brief. At this or the preceding sojourn 
at that place, Luther had the distinguished 
favor accorded to him of appearing in person 
before the Elector, as he afterwards mentions 
himself.f Upon the reason for his sudden 
departure, he thus expresses himself in his 
letter of October 13 : “You must interpret my 
sudden departure in the most favorable way. 
I did it on this account, I knew that the 
monks are in bad repute because of their prac¬ 
tices from the court to the kitchen [propter 
aulas etollas) y and partly because I did not wish 
to be burdensome to the man of whom I spoke 


*De Wette. 1.344. 
f Seckendorff. 1. 28. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. IO 9 

to you, inasmuch as I appeared to be a trouble¬ 
some and disagreeable guest to him.”* It de¬ 
serves to be mentioned, that at the end of this 
year two journeys were made to Pretzsch and 
Torgau, but the precise design cannot be as¬ 
certained. We only know he preached at 
Torgau.f Yet in the midst of his unceasing 
activity, mental and physical, he did not 
forget his friends, but constantly corresponded 
with them, and occasionally visited them for 
recreation from his severe labors, and to seek 
renewed strength and encouragement in his 
widely extended operations. 

Among these friends was Bartholomew 
Bernhardi, who, in 1516, held the first disputa¬ 
tion under the presidency of Luther, which was 
also printed by Luther. His family home was 
at Feldkirchen, in Suabia; he went to school 
at Eisenach, and studied in Erfurt; subse¬ 
quently, after he was already deacon and pres¬ 
byter at Halberstadt and Kurmainz, he came 
to Wittenberg, to attend Luther’s lectures. 
Afterwards, he was preacher (provost) at Kem- 
berg, where Luther visited him in 1520, and 

*Hall. A. Thl. xv. A. 86. 
fLingke, L Lutherus Torgensis. 2. 

10 



IIO JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

also from time to time preached there. This 
was also the case on his visit on January 8, 
1520, on the first Sunday after Epiphany. But 
as he was to preach on this day before the 
Elector at Wittenberg, he excused himself in 
a letter to Spalatin, on January 14, 1520, in 
these words : 

“You do the provost at Kemberg wrong, 
and Master Spalatin is to blame. For I asked 
you the day before whether the prince would 
stay on Sunday or not. You answered, you 
did not know. After that nobody said a word 
to me about the sermon; but I had before 
promised the provost that I would come to 
him on that day and preach to his people, who 
considered me bound to come, as I was not 
kept away by any other command.* This 
Bartholomew Bernhardi was the first priest in 
that neighborhood who married (1521). The 
Elector of Mainz, as Archbishop of Cologne, 
cited him to Halle, to answer before a spiritual 
court for this offence. But Bernhardi sent him 
a pamphlet written by Melanchthon, entitled, 
“Apologia Barth. Bernh. qui nuper ecclesiae 


* Hall, A. Thl. xix. 2218. De Wette has not this letter. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


I I I 

suae consensu uxorem duxit ( The defense of 
Barth. Bernh ., who recently married a wife by 
the consent of his Churcli). In that defense he 
insists that neither the law nor the gospel for¬ 
bids marriage to men of any profession; that 
such a prohibition was not known in the 
ancient Church, nor in the Greek Church, only 
unhappy Germany in latter times was forcibly 
compelled to assume this yoke.* 

The affair had no other result, as Bernhardi 
was not compelled by his civil ruler to appear 
at Halle. Others followed this example soon 
after, among whom was Carlstadt in I522.f 
Whilst Luther was satisfied that the secular 
clergy might lawfully marry, yet he denied at 
this period this privilege to the monks, because 
it is not consistent with their vows. It is re¬ 
markable that the modern Catholic agitation 
has not in general touched this subject. They 
must have had good grounds for their course. 
This question, so intimately associated with 
human welfare, and so directly opposed to 

*Luth. opp. Latin, Jen. T. N. p. 438 seq. 

f Hence Luther was not the first who was married, as is 
generally believed, but others had preceded him, and he 
was convinced that celibacy should be rejected. 



I 12 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

reason and Scripture, cannot continue undis¬ 
turbed. 

After this slight digression, to which Lu¬ 
ther’s journey to Kemberg gave occasion, we 
now accompany him to Lichtenberg and Eulen- 
berg. 

JOURNEYS TO LICHTENBERG AND EULENBERG. 

1520. 

In 1520, Luther had another interview with 
Carl von Miltitz at Lichtenberg, near Prettin,* 
as he had previously had at Altenberg and 
Liebenwerde. Miltitz had in March of this 
year again visited Cajetan and returned from 
him in August to Saxony, to be present at the 
convent of the Augustinians at Eisleben, and 
to settle the affair of Luther in a mild and 
peaceable manner. In a letter of October 3, 
1520, Miltitz informs the Elector of Saxony 
of this, and says: “ I am going to Fabian von 

*The Monastery at Lichtenberg at that time was occupied 
by the Antonia Brothers, but afterwards it was included in 
the Electoral church property. The President or Preceptor 
of the Monastery was in the beginning always Chancellor 
of the University of Wittenberg. At that time Wolfgang 
Reissenbusch was Preceptor. See W. Tenzel, histor. Bericht 
von d. Reformation. Leipzig, 1717, S. 4 . 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


3 


Feilitzsch to-day, to request him to write to 
Dr. Martin, that he would come to Lichten- 
berg and Eulenberg.” 

As Luther had received the Electoral per¬ 
mission to make this j’ourney, as he informs 
his patron and friend Spalatin, he cheerfully 
entered upon it in the name of God. Con¬ 
cerning his arrival, the preceptor of the con¬ 
vent, Wolfang Reissenbusch reports to Fabian 
von Feilitzsch, “ My procurator has written to 
me from Lichtenberg, that Dr. Martin arrived 
there on Thursday, (October 11), at four o’clock 
in the afternoon, and has with him Philip Me- 
lanchthon, a brother of his order, a nobleman, 
and four traveling companions.” 

He continues: “A servant reports to me in 
addition, that thirty horses were waiting for 
them at a short distance. Moreover, that at 
six o’clock, Carl von Miltitz had arrived with 
four horses. They were in excellent spirits 
and quite happy among themselves,* and upon 
that I ordered that they should be well cared 
for and their expenses also paid.” 

Concerning the interview held on October 

*Tenzel, ibid. 


io 


H 



114 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

12 (1520), Luther informs Spalatin, that he 
had agreed to send another apologetic letter 
to the pope, and thereafter to keep silence, if 
his opponents would do the same.* Luther 
kept his promise by sending a letter to Pope 
Leo X. at this time, in which he protested that 
he had never attacked the pope, but had al¬ 
ways spoken of him with reverence ; that he 
had only attacked the Roman court, which is 
corrupt to the highest degree—that the pope 
was to be pitied, who was mingled up with 
this corruption, and that he was incited to 
these steps by Eck and others. He said he 
was ready to submit to anything, except a 
recantation and to surrender the liberty of 
expounding the Scriptures.” We cannot alto¬ 
gether dismiss the doubt whether Luther did 
not yield to human infirmity in this transac¬ 
tion. As is plain from the preceding, he man¬ 
ifestly combats the authority of the pope and 
elevates the church above him, although on 
this occasion he felt compelled to place mat¬ 
ters of unessential importance in the back¬ 
ground and the grand fundamental feature, 
adherence to Scriptural authority , in the fore- 


*De Wette. Bd. 1. S. 496. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. I I 5 

ground. It must also not be forgotten, that 
Luther discriminated between office and per¬ 
son, which will explain some apparent contra¬ 
dictions. 

On October 14 (1520), the Elector received 
from Carl von Miltitz similar information, who 
wrote to him from Eulenberg: “As I lately 
wrote to your Electoral Grace, that I would 
take special pains to have a personal interview 
with Doctor Martin, I now inform your high¬ 
ness that, thank God ! this occurred in all 
kindness and friendship on October 12, the 
day of Maximilian the Martyr, at Lichtenberg. 
We had a long and friendly conversation, and 
I believe that God will grant his favor so that 
this affair may come to a happy termination.” 

This third interview, in a word, influenced 
Luther to such an extent, that he promised to 
write to the pope again. During this time he 
had written a book on Christian Liberty (De 
Libertate Christiane), and determined to send 
it with the letter, from which he anticipated 
the most happy results. Notwithstanding all 
this, Luther’s condition became every day 
more gloomy and complicated. 

According to Reissenbusch’s reports to 


II6 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

Fabian von Feilitzsch, Luther intended to 
leave Lichtenberg on Friday, October 12, 
1520, at one o’clock in the afternoon, accom¬ 
panied by Miltitz. But as one of the horses 
became stubborn, they were compelled to de¬ 
lay their departure until next day, the 13th. 
Whilst Miltitz, who was exceedingly crafty, 
treated Luther with much kindness, Dr. Eek, 
who had arrived from Rome with the procla¬ 
mation of the ban, was the more violent and 
insulting. He issued strict orders that it 
should be posted up in all the towns. An 
uproar occurred in Zeitz in consequence, dur¬ 
ing which the residence of Dr. Schmidberg 
was stormed, which alarmed him to such an 
extent that he died soon after. In a will 
which he made at Leipzig, he bequeathed one 
hundred guilders to Dr. Luther. Schmidberg 
had gone from Leipzig to Eulenberg to con¬ 
sult the councilors of the absent Elector, who 
held their session at that place. The sickness 
occasioned by his alarm became so serious, 
that he sent for Luther, whose doctrines he 
had embraced with all his heart, to visit him 
at Eulenberg. Luther yielded to the solicita¬ 
tion and traveled with Melanchthon to that 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 117 

place, but he came too late, for the man was 
dead. 

Here was a new proof that Luther was al¬ 
ways the comforter of the sick and wretched. 
Luther and Melanchthon took advantage of 
this opportunity, to have a conversation with 
Fabian von Feilitzsch, the Electoral privy- 
councilor, on religious affairs and the state of 
the church. Luther did not neglect to pursue 
wise measures in introducing the gospel doc¬ 
trines in Eulenberg, after which, accompanied 
by Melanchthon, he returned to Wittenberg, 
on the 13th or 14th of October, 1520. 

Luther was to take a more important journey 
in 1521, which we will consider in the next 
chapter. 



CHAPTER III. 


FROM THE DIET AT WORMS TO THE DIET 
AT AUGSBURG. 1321-1330. 

JOURNEY TO WORMS. 

F the principal journeys undertaken by 



\J Luther, that to Worms is unquestionably 
the most important, where the Emperor Charles 
V., held his first Diet, because it could not be 
held at Nurnberg on account of the plague. 
The chief design of the Emperor was to quiet 
the excitement created by the doctrines of 
Martin Luther. Thus Charles served the 
pope, who could recompense him for it, and 
thus also he showed his gratitude to the Elec¬ 
tor of Saxony, Frederick the Wise, who had 
helped him to secure the German crown. 

Wilhelm von Croy and Heinrich von Nas¬ 
sau, ministers of Charles V., had already writ¬ 
ten on November 22, 1520, whose letters were 


(u8) 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. II9 

followed by one on November 28, from the 
Emperor himself to the Elector, requesting 
him to bring Luther to the Diet at Worms 
with him, where he should be judicially exam¬ 
ined by learned men. 

On December 20, 1520, the Elector de¬ 
clined this request, expressing his apprehen¬ 
sion that Luther would not be safe in Worms. 
Before the Emperor had received this Elec¬ 
toral letter, he wrote to the Elector on De¬ 
cember 17, 1520, intimating that he would do 
better by leaving Luther in Wittenberg, that 
the time prescribed in the bull had passed, and 
that Luther was really under the ban. Luther 
had previously, after having given public 
notice, cast into the flames the bull proclaimed 
against him, the decretals of the popes, and 
some other writings of his opponents. This 
act has been variously judged, even by differ¬ 
ent Protestant church historians. 

To Spalatin’s question to Luther, whether 
he was willing to appear in Worms, he replied 
that he would go to Worms even if he were 
sick, and even if it were in danger of his life; 
he only wished that the Emperor would not 
soil himself with his blood, and that everything 


120 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


might be expected of him excepting fear and 

RECANTATION. 

How suddenly Luther’s views in relation to 
the greatness of the pope were changed about 
these times, is best shown by the words which 
he addressed to his pupils on the day after the 
burning of the proclamation of the ban, when 
he had finished his lecture on the Psalter. He 
added to it: “ If you do not with your whole 
heart oppose the scandalous government of the 
pope, you cannot be saved. For the kingdom 
of the pope is so far opposed to the kingdom 
of Christ and Christian life, that it would be 
better and safer to dwell in a desert where 
there was no human being, than to be a subject 
of the kingdom of anti-Christ.” Thus and no 
otherwise could and must he speak of a pope, 
who was not fully conscious of his position in 
the Christian Church. 

After these observations, let us now return 
to our subject. 

After the Elector had arrived at Worms, it 
was suggested to him by the imperial Coun¬ 
cilors, that he would write to Luther to come 
immediately to Worms under the protection 
of the Emperor; but the Elector seriously hesi- 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


21 


tated about sending in his own name this in¬ 
vitation of the Emperor and the government. 
Notwithstanding, he informs Luther of the fact, 
who, in a letter of January 25, 1521, told the 
Elector that he was as ready to answer before 
learned Christian judges, as the Diet, and to 
show that what he had undertaken did not 
proceed from presumption or vanity, but from 
a sincere desire to rescue the Catholic church 
from the horrible abuses into which she had 
sunk.* The proposition of the States that 
Luther should be asked in person before the 
whole Diet, whether he would not recant the 
doctrines contained in his writings, finally 
determined the Emperor to issue a citation to 
Luther on March 6, 1521, that he should ap¬ 
pear in Worms within twenty-one days. This 
proclamation was accompanied with an im¬ 
perial letter of safe conduct. 

The imperial citation was clothed in lan¬ 
guage appropriate to such documents. Not¬ 
withstanding all these friendly assurances, 
Luther was well aware of the risks he en¬ 
countered, but nothing could subdue his cour¬ 
age. He was strong in the anticipation of his 

* De Wette, 1. 548. 

II 



122 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

final triumph. Under the influence of such 
feelings he said, “ And even if my enemies 
should build a fire that would reach up to 
heaven between Wittenberg and Worms, since 
I am called out, I will appear in the name of 
the Lord, and walk in the very mouth of 
Behemoth—yea, irfto his great teeth—confess 
Christ, and let Him reign.” 

Spalatin had sent Luther the articles, the 
recantation of which would be insisted on at 
Worms, upon which the latter, in a letter of 
March 19 (1521), declares to Spalatin, that a 
recantation is not to be thought of, but that he 
would cheerfully sacrifice his life in defense of 
he truth.* 

Luther received the imperial citation, to¬ 
gether with the letter of safe conduct, on Palm 
Sunday, March 24 (1521), or on the following 
Tuesday, through a herald, Kaspar Sturm, 
sent by the Emperor. As early as the 12th 
of March, the Elector had issued an order to 
the town officials of Wittenberg, that they 
should see that Luther was treated properly, 
and that, if necessary, a guard of protection 
should accompany him, and that he should be 


* De Wette, 1, 573. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. I 23 

provided with everything necessary for a safe 
and comfortable journey. 

The accounts of the treasurer of the city 
show that this order was fully obeyed. On 
April 2d, and not on the 4th, as many falsely 
assert, Luther began his perilous journey. A 
Saxon traveling wagon was furnished him, and 
he set out, accompanied by the imperial 
herald, Kaspar Sturm, Justus Jonas, Nicolas 
Amsdorf, his official associates, the lawyer Dr. 
Hieronymus Schurf, whom the provident 
Elector sent with him as Counselor, Peter von 
Suaven (Schwef) who was a Pommeranian 
nobleman, and the monk Pegenstein. 

His friends Amsdorf, Von Suaven and the 
monk, sat with him in the carriage. His 
brother Jacob also accompanied him. On his 
departure, he said to his beloved Melanchthon, 
who remained behind, “ If I do not return, and 
my enemies murder me, dear brother! I con¬ 
jure you not to cease teaching, and persevere 
in the truth of the divine Word. Work also 
for me during my absence; you can do it 
better than I, hence I will not be a great loss. 
In you, our Lord God has still a more learned 
and competent warrior.” 


124 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


The Wittenbergers were deeply affected at 
his departure, and many tears of sincere affec¬ 
tion were shed, for they believed they would 
never again see their beloved teacher. The 
students of the University accompanied him to 
the city gate, and pious wishes and blessings 
followed him until he was lost from their sight. 

To his Sovereign, he sent word through 
Spalatin, “ I do not fear: He still lives and 
reigns who preserved the three men in the 
heated furnace; if He will not preserve me, my 
head is of small account in comparison with 
Christ, who was put to death aimd the deepest 
ignominy.” 

He looked upon his journey to Worms as a 
divine call, and he entered upon it full of con¬ 
fidence in God’s gracious protection, and of 
heroic Christian courage. 

The journey on that day, April 2, was con¬ 
tinued as far as Leipzig, where, according to 
the custom of the times, some wine was offered 
him, as was reported by Veit von Warbeck, 
Canon at Altenburg, to Duke George. He 
stood very high in the estimation of the Duke 
because of his familiarity with the French 
language. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


125 


On April 3, Luther proceeded as far as 
Naumburg, where he also received a present 
of wine, which was then a mark of distinction, 
and where he, with the imperial herald, was 
handsomely entertained by the Burgomaster 
Grassier. Here he was presented with a like¬ 
ness of the Italian Reformer, Savonarola, by a 
priest, with an admonition to cling firmly to 
the truth, for his God would stand by him. 
(Matthesius.) 

When Luther some years after wrote a 
preface to Savonarola’s exposition on Ps. 51, he 
thus expressed himself concerning this martyr, 
(May 23, 1498). “ Here you see him entering, 
not in reliance upon his vows, the monk’s 
cowl, masses and the good works of his order, 
but ready to promote the gospel of peace, 
clothed with the breast-plate of righteousness 
and the shield of faith.” 

From Naumburg he went to Weimar, where 
Duke John (the Constant), held his court, and 
who kindly paid Luther’s traveling expenses. 
It is probable that he rested there on April 5. 

The Elector of Mainz was much dissatisfied 
at Luther’s journey to Worms, for he feared 
his silent influence upon the hearts of men. 

11* 


126 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

He sought to deter him from proceeding 
further by the false report that his condemna¬ 
tion at Worms had been already pronounced. 
Luther heard of this at Weimar, but it did not 
change his purpose, for on the following day 
he traveled to Erfurt. M. Johannes Crotius, 
at that time Rector of the University, who 
was formerly a fellow-student of Luther, met 
him with forty horsemen two miles from the 
city, and received him with an address, which 
was also done by Cobanus Hess,* who was 
professor of Rhetoric and Poetry at Erfurt. 

A great crowd had gathered in the streets to 
see Luther. He stopped at the Augustinian 
Monastery, where he was kindly received by 
the Prior, John Lange. On Sunday, April 7, 
Luther preached in the Augustinian church. 
Such an immense multitude had assembled 
that the church could not contain them all, and 
many had to stand outside. One of the gal¬ 
leries was so crowded that there was apprehen¬ 
sion of its falling, which excited such a panic 
that many leaped through the windows into 

* He left behind four elegies, of which the first two treat 
of Luther’s entrance into Erfurt (De Lutheri ingressu in 
Urbem Erphurdium). 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 12 7 

the churchyard below. But Luther continued 
his discourse with undismayed courage, and 
besought the people not to be alarmed at what 
he regarded as the work of the devil, nor to be 
disturbed in their devotions. His sermon, 
which he finished without the occurrence of 
any accident, was highly applauded. 

In Erfurt, Dr. George Sturz, who subse¬ 
quently attended him in an attack of sickness 
at Schmalkald, Dr. Euricus Cordo and licenti¬ 
ate Justus Jonas, who soon after became pro¬ 
vost at Wittenberg, joined his company as 
fellow-travelers. 

On the 8th of April, he traveled from this 
place to Gotha, whence, after he had preached 
a sermon in the Augustinian church, he pro¬ 
ceeded, probably on the same day, to Reich- 
hardsbrunnen, as is reported by Dr. Ratzeburg. 
Here, it is related that he said to the vicar of 
the monastery, who was much concerned for 
his safety, “ Pray to God, that he may give suc¬ 
cess to his Son, Christ. If his cause is secure, 
so also is mine.” This is an additional proof 
that Luther regarded his mission as divine. 

As Luther, who had thus far prosecuted his 
tour in good health, arrived at Eisenach, where 


128 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


he had some relations,* he had a severe attack 
of sickness, from which he soon recovered by 
being bled, and by the use of a water which the 
Burgermeister Oswald recorqmended to him, 
so that he could continue his journey without 
interruption. 

Although there are no further records of his 
tour from this place to Frankfort, yet it is 
probable that he pursued the same route that 
he took on his return, which was through 
Berka, Hersfeld, Grunberg, and Friedberg to 
Frankfort. The tour through the Duchy of 
Henneberg and Franconia appeared to him too 
dangerous, because in those districts the papal 
doctrines had numerous adherents. Probably 
also, the route he took was accompanied with 
fewer difficulties of every sort. The Reforma¬ 
tion began in Henneberg only as late as 1543. 
In Franconia also, the evangelical cause was 
introduced subsequently, which furnishes good 
grounds for avoiding these districts, although 
in other places the prospect was not more en¬ 
couraging. 


*He had a cousin there named Conrad Luther, who was 
janitor of St. Nicolas church, whom he invited to be present 
when he read his first mass in Erfurt, in 1507. 




JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. I2p 

But this we know, that when on his way, 
upon passing through many towns and villages, 
he was greeted with papal proclamations of 
arrest—posted on the corner-stones of churches 
and on columns in the streets—the imperial 
herald Sturm, who was sitting with him in the 
traveling vehicle, asked him, “What he thought 
of this ? whether his courage was failing, and 
whether he would venture to proceed further?” 
“ Yes,” replied he, “ notwithstanding that they 
have put me under the ban, we will proceed to 
Worms, even if they should kindle a fire reach¬ 
ing to the clouds; we will go to Worms, in 
spite of all the gates of hell and of the princes 
of the power of the air!” 

Everywhere on the way, he was thus 
warned: “ Dear Brother Martin, you will not 
escape the fate of Huss !” But he was not de¬ 
terred by all this, from prosecuting his journey 
vigorously. 

On April 14, he arrived at Frankfort. Here 
he visited the school of William Resen, who 
subsequently held a professorship at Witten¬ 
berg, but was unfortunately drowned in the 
Elbe on July 6, 1524. From Frankfort, he 
wrote to Spalatin, “ We are coming to Worms, 

I 


130 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

in spite of all the powers of darkness. Prepare 
lodgings for me.”* 

On April 15, he journeyed with a serene 
mind to Oppenheim, which he reached on the 
same day. We cannot omit an event which 
occurred at this time, and that was that the 
Elector Albert again made an attempt to pre¬ 
vent Luther from appearing at Worms. At 
his suggestion, the Emperor’s confessor, Cla- 
pion, a Carmelite monk, and the upper cham¬ 
berlain, Paul von Arnebsdorf, hastened to 
Franz von Sickingen, and begged him to per¬ 
suade Luther to submit to another friendly 
conversation on the subject of his doctrines, at 
the castle of Ebernburg. Luther, who heard 
of this at Oppenheim, knew very well that the 
design was to detain him until the lawful time 
of his safe conduct had elapsed, and then to 
arrest him. He hence replied to Bucer, who 
was at that time a guest of Sickingen, “ If the 
Emperor’s confessor has anything to say to 
me, there will be time enough at Worms.” 

Above all things, it deserves here to be men¬ 
tioned, that he is said to have composed the 


*De Wette. 1.586,587. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


3 


hymn, “ Ein feste Burg” at Oppenheim, while 
others fix the date of it in 1529.* 

Shortly before he arrived at Worms, a mes¬ 
senger from Spalatin met him, warning him 
against the perils he would encounter in that 
city; but his answer was, “ If there were as 
many devils in Worms as there are tiles on the 
roofs, I would still go, and not fear!” 

At ten o’clock of the morning of April 16, 
he entered the city. The imperial herald, in 
his official costume, rode in front; Luther in 
the Saxon carriage followed with his three as¬ 
sociates. Justus Jonas with his servant closed 
the procession, which was made up of more 
than two thousand persons. Bernhard von 
H'irschfeld, John Schotte, Albert Lindenau, and 
many other courtiers of rank, had gone out to 
meet him. According to Luther’s own report, 
he first drove to the “ German Court,” where 
the Elector and his suite resided, to present 
himself to His Grace. After this service was 
performed, he proceeded to his own lodgings, 
the House of the German Orders, not far from 
the “Swan Tavern.” The Elector of the Pfalz 
and several' noblemen—for example, the Saxon 


Lingke, 93, ap. 3. 



132 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


Councillors Frederick Thuusu, Philip v. Fei- 
litzsch and Ulrich v. Pappenheim, had taken 
lodgings. 

He was visited by counts and noblemen, as 
well as by the Landgrave Philip of Hessia, 
Duke Willliam of Brunswick, and Count Wil¬ 
liam of Henneberg. 

The address with which an old man greeted 
the great Reformer is remarkable : “ Welcome, 
thou beloved guest, for whom we children of 
darkness have long waited!” 

Credible contemporaries assure us that his 
entrance was witnessed by a much larger mul¬ 
titude of people than that of the Emperor him¬ 
self. Expectation was everywhere at the 
highest pitch. Fear and hope, threats and 
good wishes, curses and prayers, were mingled 
in close proximity. 

The Emperor was importuned not to regard 
“ the safe conduct” which he had given, and to 
order the apprehension of the false teacher, just 
as Huss had been treated one hundred years 
before. But Charles replied, “ What has been 
promised, must be fulfilled.” 

Numerous alarming reports and menacing 
letters were sent to him, but he did not allow 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


133 


himself to be intimidated in the least degree 
but calmly spent nearly the whole of the first 
night in contemplating the beautiful starry 
heavens, in prayer, and in playing his lute. 
The prayer by which he sought to strengthen 
himself before he entered upon his j'ourney to 
the Diet, has been preserved, which gives us a ^ 
view of his innermost spirit. He prayed so 
loud, that it was written down by some one 
outside of his chamber. 

Thus prayed this pious man of God: “ Al¬ 
mighty, eternal God—how weak is the confi¬ 
dence of men in God! Thou, my God, stand 
by me against the wisdom of the world; do 
thou the work. Thou must do it—thou 
alone. It is not my cause, it is thine '; for my 
own honor I have nothing to perform, and 
with these great men of the world I have 
nothing to do ; but the cause is thine—it is 
j us t—it is everlasting. I will not depend upon 
any human being. Come, come, I am ready; 
even to sacrifice my life as patiently as a lamb. 
For the cause is righteous, and it belongs to 
thee; and thus I will never, no never, separate 
myself from thee. This is my resolution in 
thy name; the world must leave my conscience 
12 


134 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


unbound, and if I shall lose my life in this con¬ 
flict, the soul is thine, and will abide with thee 
eternally.” 

He who can pray thus, prays well. 

On the morning following his arrival, on 
April 17, Luther was ordered to appear before 
the Imperial Assembly, through the Marshal 
von Pappenheim. He besought God in earnest 
prayer to support him in this severe trial, as 
was his pious practice in every time of peril. 
In the afternoon, between four and five, he was 
conducted to the place of meeting by the im¬ 
perial Marshal. As the overcrowded streets 
did not allow a passage, he was led by Pappen¬ 
heim and the imperial herald Sturm through 
back alleys and gardens to the Council Hall, 
where the assembly met. Many persons even 
mounted the roofs of houses to get a sight of 
Luther. It waft six o’clock before he was 
called into the assembly chamber. During 
this long delay, many took advantage of the 
opportunity of seeing him and speaking to 
him in the vestibule where he waited. 

When finally the doors of the assembly room 
were opened for his admission, the gray-bearded 
warrior, George von Frundsberg, who had vie- 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 1 35 

toriously fought under Maximilian I. against 
the Venitians and Swedes, bol'dly approached 
him, and clapping him upon the shoulder, 
said, “ My little monk! my little monk ! you 
are about taking a step, the like of which I 
and many another captain, even in our most 
furious battles, have not done. If you are 
truly sincere, and certain that your cause is 
just, be of good comfort, and go forward in 
God’s name. God will not forsake you.”* 

Some of the imperial Councillors also felt 
themselves so moved when they beheld him, 
that they easily found a Bible text with which 
they could console him, Matt. x. 19. When 
he entered there was such a pressure of the 
crowd, that soldiers were compelled to make 
room with their halberds, so that he might ad¬ 
vance to the Emperor. 

There he stood, in his holy vocation of a 
heroic champion of the truth before the repre¬ 
sentatives of the German empire, which con¬ 
sisted of the Emperor, his brother, the Arch¬ 
duke Ferdinand, six electors, twenty-four 
dukes, eight margraves, thirty bishops and 
prelates, five ambassadors of kings and others. 


* Seckendorf. 



136 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


TRIAL BEFORE THE IMPERIAL DIET ASSEMBLED 
AT WORMS, AND HIS SOJOURN IN THAT CITY. 

After the confusion occasioned by hi$. ap¬ 
pearance before the Diet had somewhat sub¬ 
sided, Pappenheim intimated to him not to 
speak until he was asked. Strengthened by 
the prayer which he had offered in his cham¬ 
ber, he looked around upon the august assem¬ 
bly modestly but firmly, conscious of the^justice 
of the cause which he was summoned to defend. 

Upon this, the Electoral Chancellor of 
Triers, John von Eck, (not the theologian of 
Ingolstadt of the same name) advanced, and 
asked him— 

1. Whether he acknowledged the books 
which were lying on a bench before him to be 
his ? 

2. Whether he had any idea of recanting 
what these books taught ? 

As Luther was about giving an affirmative 
answer to the first question, Hieronymus 
Schurf interrupted him, and exclaimed in a 
loud voice, “ Let us hear the titles of the books 
read!” When this was done, Luther acknowl¬ 
edged that he was the author of them all. In 
relation to the second question, he expressed 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 137 

himself more fully, and begged time until the 
next day before he would answer. 

On the following day, April 18, at four p. 
m., he was again conducted to the meeting by 
the imperial herald, and was asked again for 
his reply. The eyes of the assembly were 
firmly fixed upon him, and the immense mul¬ 
titude which had crowded into the hall stood 
in solemn silence, awaiting his response. This 
made a deep impression upon him, and would 
have embarrassed any other man. But he re¬ 
covered his composure, and said: 

“ The contents of my books are of various 
characters. What I have written against the 
pope, I cannot recall, without injury to the 
gospel, and sanctioning the tyranny of the 
pope over the church. In other books, I have 
written upon faith, Christian life and works, 
and neither these can I recall. 

“ Finally, some of my books are written 
against my opponents, who have assailed my 
doctrine and defended the doctrines of the 
popes. I confess that these are written some¬ 
what sharply. But as the question con¬ 
cerns the truths therein taught, all of which I 
have proved from the Holy Scriptures, neither 
12* 


I38 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

can I recede from them. But I am ready, if I 
am convicted of any error from the Scriptures , 
and not merely from the writings of men, not 
only to recall them, but to burn them myself/’ 

This declaration, which he made in the Ger¬ 
man language, he repeated in Latin by request 
of the Elector, and to his great satisfaction. 

Upon the renewed demand of Eck to 
make no distinctions in the character of his 
writings, and to give a plain, short reply, Lu¬ 
ther said: 

“ Since then, His Imperial Majesty, and 
these Electors and Princes desire a plump, 
simple, correct answer, I shall give one that 
has neither horns nor teeth, and it is this: 
Unless I am convicted by testimony of the 
Holy Scriptures or by clear arguments—for I 
do not believe the pope and Councils, because 
they have often erred, and have waged fierce 
controversies among themselves—I cannot and 
will not recant, for it is not safe nor proper to 
do anything against conscience. Here I stand; 
I cannot do otherwise; God help me, Amen!” 

Luther thus expresses himself upon this 
trying and important act of his life: 

“ When I had finished speaking, they al- 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 139 

lowed me to depart, and two men were deputed 
to guide and accompany me. 

“ Upon this arose a tumult. The noblemen 
exclaimed and asked whether I was a prisoner? 
but I said, ‘ These men are only conducting me 
home.’ Thus I came to my lodgings, and did 
not appear before the Diet again.” 

On the way, he said to Spalatin and others, 
“ If he had a thousand heads, he would rather 
have them all cut off, than make one recanta¬ 
tion.” Luther had calmly expressed himself 
with simplicity of heart and forbearance. The 
majority of the Councillors were excited to ad¬ 
miration by his manly and heroic language. 

His conduct throughout the severe ordeal 
made a deep impression upon the Elector of 
Saxony, for on the same evening he remarked 
to Spaltain, “ How beautifully Father Martin 
spoke before the Emperor and the imperial 
representatives!” 

Even the Emperor could not suppress the 
exclamation, “ This monk speaks unalarmed 
and courageously!” When the Spaniards and 
the Italians importuned the young Emperor to 
order this ungodly wretch to be burned on the 
spot, as his ancestor Sigismund treated John 


140 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

Huss and Jerome of Prague, the Emperor 
replied, “ If fidelity is nowhere else found in 
the world, it shall be found in the Emperor of 
Germany.” 

After the date of the letter of safe conduct 
was extended, the Archbishop of Triers, 
Richard von Greifenklau, at whose house were 
assembled the Elector Barchim of Branden¬ 
burg, Duke George, the bishops of Augsburg 
and Brandenburg, besides some Counts and 
ambassadors, summoned Luther to appear be¬ 
fore him again (April 24) for the purpose of in¬ 
ducing him to withdraw from the position he 
had assumed. With the same intent, on the 
following day, he sent Chancellor Behns of 
Baden and Dr. Peutinger to Luther; but all 
was in vain, for Luther would not be led away 
from the acknowledged truth by any argument 
they used or promise they made. On this oc¬ 
casion as on others, full of undaunted courage 
and confidence in God, he had recourse to the 
passage, “ If this counsel or work be of men, 
it will come to naught; but if it be of God, ye 
cannot overthrow it.” And to this he clung 
fast and unshaken, as to a rock on which the 
waves of the ocean beat furiously. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. I4I 

It deserves to be mentioned, that immedi¬ 
ately after his first appearance before the Diet, 
many noblemen came to his lodgings and 
asked, “ Doctor, how are you doing ? it is said 
they are going to burn you, but that must not 
happen ; they shall rather all burn with you!” 

His firmness had such a permanent effect on 
many of the inhabitants of Worms, that, be¬ 
cause his doctrines were not allowed to be 
taught publicly, a small pulpit was constructed, 
which was conveyed from one place to another, 
and from it the true gospel was preached in 
private houses. 

Some of his opponents also visited him, 
only, however, with the design of trying to 
make him abandon his ground; but they did 
not succeed. 

The Elector Richard of Triers was so little 
disturbed in his good opinion of Luther by the 
firmness of the latter, that he invited him to 
his table. Even the Chancellor, John von 
Eck, who spoke so magisterially and coarsely 
to Luther in the Diet, was influenced to such 
a degree by his heroism, that on this occasion 
he drank to Luther’s health. The latter was 
about to return the compliment, but when he 


142 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


took up the glass it burst into pieces in his 
hand. 

The other guests looked upon each other 
in amazement, not concealing their suspicion 
that the wine had been poisoned. But Luther, 
with that presence of mind which never for¬ 
sook him in company, turned it all into a j‘est: 
“ Dear sirs,” said he, “ either the wine was not 
destined for me, or it was not wholesome; or, 
most properly, the glass burst because it was 
too suddenly cooled off in cold water! ” 

Cochlaeus, whose real name was Dobnek, 
who afterwards became a violent opponent of 
Luther, was also at this table. He pretended 
to pity him on account of the destiny that 
awaited him, and urged him to recant. 

When Luther resolutely refused, Cochlaeus 
ventured to challenge him to a disputation, 
but to give up his “ free conduct ” previously. 

Vollrath von Waltzdorf was so enraged by 
this mean proposition, and the excitement ran 
so high, that there would have ensued a per¬ 
sonal encounter, if others had not interfered. 

Two Jews, who had heard of Luther’s repu¬ 
tation, presented themselves to him with the 
offer of a valuable gift, and desired instruction 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


H3 


from him. Luther received them, and first re¬ 
quested from them an interpretation of Is. 
vii. 14, “ Behold a virgin shall conceive,” etc. 
Hereupon the two visitors fell into such a 
violent controversy between themselves, be¬ 
cause one of them agreed with Luther’s 
explanation, that they almost came to blows. 

His friends in other places did not forget 
him during this period. Ulrich von Hutten 
especially, his ardent admirer, wrote him two 
letters encouraging him to firmness and perse¬ 
verance. 

On Thursday, April 25, Luther was again 
invited to the residence of Richard, Elector 
of Triers, to make a last attempt to move him 
to recantation; but Luther took this opportun¬ 
ity to request him to secure the emperor’s 
permission to return home, for he had already 
been in Worms ten days, and nothing had 
been accomplished. The Elector replied, that 
he would ride to the emperor that very hour 
and endeavor to promote the object of his 
wish. 

Relying upon this promise, Luther declared 
to the Electoral Saxon Councillor, Hans von 
Minkwitz, in Spalatin’s presence: 


144 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


“ To-morrow I shall start on my return.” 

This was really fulfilled, for scarcely three 
hours after leaving the Elector of Triers, ap¬ 
peared John von Eck, accompanied by the 
Imperial Secretary, Maximilian Transilvanus, 
and informed him in the Emperor’s name, that 
he should return home and have twenty-one 
days “ safe conduct,” but that he should not 
preach , teach , nor write. Luther expressed 
his thanks for the treatment he had* thus far 
received and for the “safe conduct” thus far 
observed, but reserved the right of “ freely 
promoting and confessing the Word of God/’ 
The emperor had given him only the oral 
assurance of the “ safe conduct,” but Philip, 
the Landgrave of Hesse, gave him a copy in 
writing. 

RETURN FROM WORMS. 

Luther’s last words at the Diet of Worms, 
“ Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise; God 
help me, Amen!” had rendered fruitless every 
attempt to induce him to recant. His enemies 
then determined to silence him, and, if possible, 
not to allow him to reach Wittenberg. Under 
such circumstances his friends were compelled 
to adopt measures for his safety, but his emi- 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


145 


nent protector, the sagacious Frederick, Elector 
of Saxony, was the only one who had the 
power and resolution to accomplish it; and yet 
he was too conscientious to expose himself to 
the embarrassment of knowing the place where 
he had concealed Luther without the Em¬ 
peror’s knowledge. Hence the Elector con¬ 
sulted his court preacher and private secretary 
Spalatin, and left to him all further arrange¬ 
ments. It was very natural that the Electoral 
castle of Wartburg should occur to Spalatin as 
a proper asylum, but the execution of the plan 
he left to the governor of the castle, Hans von 
Berlepsch, whom he knew to be an adventur¬ 
ous and fearless knight. History does not 
mention the name of the trusted messenger. 
His duties as private secretary to the Elector 
detained Spalatin himself in Worms. It was 
only on the night of April 25, that he suc¬ 
ceeded in pursuading Luther to suffer himself 
to be captured on his return, without, however, 
receiving any more definite information of the 
time or place where it was to occur. Berlepsch 
was instructed by Spalatin to allow Luther on 
his return to make a digression to visit his 
relatives in Mohra, and during this time to se- 


I46 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

cure his safety. Probably he directed the at¬ 
tention of the governor to that vicinity, think¬ 
ing that if Luther were captured at Eisenach, 
(which is near the Wartburg) the place of his 
concealment would be conjectured, which was 
less likely if he were taken into custody at a 
greater distance. The capture near Altenstein 
was also not without peril, for the road from 
Mohra led in part through the territory of the 
strict Catholic Dukes, William and Henry of 
Henneberg, before he would reach that of the 
Saxon Knight, Burkhard Hund von Wenkheim, 
in which Altenstein lay. As measures had al¬ 
ready been adopted in Worms, through Spala- 
tin, to get rid of the imperial herald at the 
proper time in behalf of the Castellan, it yet 
remained to the Knight to let the neighbor of 
the Henneberg territory, Burkhard Hund of 
Altenstein, into the secret, so that the latter 
might be careful to keep it as long as possible 
from all others. His older brother, Hans 
Hund von Wenkheim, at Lauringen in Bavaria, 
was presented with the castle of Altenstein by 
the Elector Frederick and his brother, George 
John, in 1492. He was attached to the Elec¬ 
toral court, and traveled with it into the Holy 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 1 47 

Land, where he was constituted Knight. 
Upon this excursion he spent a considerable 
portion of his own fortune and of that of his 
younger brother. To compensate him to some 
extent, the two Electoral brothers presented to 
him the castle and jurisdiction of Altenstein. 

When Hans Hund died in 1505, and was 
soon after followed by his only son, the 
brother of the former, Burkhard Hund, who 
was also Councillor at Gotha, was again pre¬ 
sented with Altenstein by the Elector Freder¬ 
ick and his brother John, in 1505.* 

Burkhard Hund was in a better condition to 
designate the most appropriate place in that 
vicinity for the capture than the governor of 
the distant Wartburg. That Amsdorf, who 
accompanied Luther on his return, was let into 
the secret, though he neither knew the place 
nor time when the plan was to be executed, is 
very probable. 


* Hennebergische chronica, etc., von J. L. Heim. Mein- 
ingen, 1767, II. Th. s. 325. “Dr. Luther speaks of him 
highly as an honest cavalier, who often told the Elector 
John that the nobility appropriated to themselves all sorts 
of monastic property, which afterwards are swallowed up in 
their personal property as knights.” He had three sons, 
Christopher, Burkhard and Hans. 



I48 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

With these preliminaries, we now return to 
our narrative. 

After Luther had taken leave of many of his 
friends and patrons in Worms, he departed 
from the city on Friday morning at 10 o’clock, 
April 26, with his traveling companions. The 
imperial herald (Sturm) announced this time 
of departure to him, whilst he was surrounded 
by many friends, and then probably delivered 
to him the letter of “ safe conduct” prepared 
for him by the Landgrave Philip. 

On the same day he reached Oppenheim, 
where he was overtaken by the imperial her¬ 
ald, who had left Worms a few hours later. 
He had orders from the emperor to accom¬ 
pany Luther on his homeward tour. On 
April 27 (1521), he arrived at Frankfort, and 
stopped at the house of his former landlord, 
Wolfgang Prenters. Here he received flatter¬ 
ing attentions from numerous friends. We 
must here notice particularly a letter which 
he wrote from this place, April 28, to Lucas 
Cranach, and which for various reasons de¬ 
serves to be introduced.* After the usual 
salutation, he thus proceeds: 


De Wette, i. 588—89. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


149 


“ My dear God-father, Lucas. I bless you 
and commend you to God; I have consented 
to be confined in concealment , but I do not 
myself know where.* 

“And although I would have preferred to 
suffer death from tyrants, especially from the 
hands of the ravenous Duke George of Sax¬ 
ony, yet I dare not despise the counsel of 
good people, until the time comes. 

They did not expect me at Worms, and how 
they have kept my safe conduct, you all well 
know from the prohibition that was put 
upon me. I thought that his Imperial maj¬ 
esty would summon one doctor or fifty to 
overwhelm the monk, but nothing more was 
done than: Are these books yours ? Yes. 
Will you recant them, or not? No. Then 
begone. O! we blind Germans !—how like 
children we act, and allow the Romanists to 
make such egregious fools of us. 

“ My salutation to your dear wife, who I 
hope is well. A little time must elapse and 
be endured—in a little ye shall not see me: 

* A proof that Luiher was aware of the plan of his ex¬ 
alted patron, Frederick the Wise, without knowing particu¬ 
lars. 


13 



150 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

and again, in a little while, ye shall see me, 
says Christ (John xvi. 16). I hope it will be 
thus with you. But the will of God be done 
here, as in heaven and upon earth. Amen. 

“Salute master Christian* and his wife, and 
also present my thanks to the Council for the 
equipage.f If the licentiate Feldkirch is not 
satisfactory to you, invite Amsdorf to preach, 
who will cheerfully do it. Farewell; I com¬ 
mend you to God: may he protect you in 
the knowledge and faith of Christ against 
the Romish wolves and dragons with all their 
adherents. Amen. 

“Frankfort on the Mayn y Sunday , Apr. 28 , 1521A 

The ban against Luther was not yet pub¬ 
licly proclaimed, but the joyful report of his 
manly stand before the Diet had preceded him 
like a winged messenger. His return was like 
a triumphant procession; for many who on his 
tour to Worms had regarded him as a sure 
victim of sacerdotal hate, now welcomed his 
presence with shouts of joy. 

* Christian Beyer, at that time professor and burgomaster 
at Wittenberg, afterwards Court Chancellor. 

f The City Council had furnished Luther with the carriage, 
as we have seen above. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. I 5 I 

He did not remain long in Frankfort, for on 
the same day on which he wrote the letter to 
Lucas Cranach, he proceeded to Friedberg. 
Here on the 28th, he wrote two letters, one 
to the emperor, and the other to the States, 
which probably was done at the suggestion 
of the Elector, for in an accompanying note to 
Spalatin, he says: “ Here you have the letters 
you desired.” Both are of the same import. 
He says that, although he did not succeed in 
having his writings examined by competent 
judges, yet he thanked the emperor for the 
free and safe conduct, and was still ready to 
appear before “such judges and to recant, if 
he were refuted by the Holy Scriptures .” 

These letters were accompanied with a short 
note to Spalatin, which he wrote on April 24, 
and gave to the returning herald. He doubt¬ 
less believed that he could here dismiss the lat¬ 
ter, as he was now approaching the Hessian ter¬ 
ritory, in which he felt himself secure, on account 
of the letter of safe conduct prepared for him 
by the Landgrave Philip. It was also thought 
best to take advantage of this opportunity to 
get rid of the herald, for he could not be used 
in the execution of the contemplated plan. 


152 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


On that day, April 29, Luther traveled to 
Griienberg, as he had informed Spalatin, where 
he remained during the night. 

On the following day, April 30 (1521), he 
arrived at Herzfeld, where he was kindly re¬ 
ceived by the princely abbot of the Benedictine 
Order, Crato Meiliers, who sent his chancellor 
and castellan, with a retinue of knights and 
members of the town council, to meet him a 
mile distant, having previously prepared a 
splendid entertainment for him in the monas¬ 
tery. He even resigned to Luther’s use his 
own bed-room. 

Notwithstanding the imperial prohibition to 
preach anywhere, Luther yielded to the impor¬ 
tunate entreaty of the Abbot. He preached 
there on May I, concerning which he himself 
says, “ They compelled me to preach at 5 
o’clock in the morning.”* “ He could not,” he 
says, “ agree that the word of God should be 
bound,” which sentiment he expresses on other 
occasions. 

After the sermon, Luther proceeded on his 
journey, in company of Dr. Hieronymus 
Schurf, Peter von Schwef (Suave), Dr. Justus 


*De Wette, ii. 19. 




JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. I 53 

Jonas, Amsdorf, and his brother Jacob. The 
Abbot accompanied him as far as the forest 
(Sillingswald), after he had ordered his chan¬ 
cellor to have prepared for his distinguished 
guest, “ a substantial meal” in Berka, on the 
river Werra. 

After this meal and a brief stay, he jour¬ 
neyed to Eisenach (May i). Near this place, he 
was met by a similar procession of citizens, as 
at Herzfeld; and whilst he was sleeping calmly 
in “ his beloved city,” a tumultuous crowd of 
his young admirers, mostly students, assembled 
together in Erfurt, because the deacon of the 
Severi Institute had driven away from the 
steps of the High Altar, during a religious 
service, a convert to the new doctrine, Dr. 
John Drach, a teacher in the University. 

Luther remained in Eisenach the whole of 
the next day (May 2), where at that time a 
near relative of his, Conrad Luther, was jan¬ 
itor of St. Nicolas’s church; he also preached 
there, although difficulties were thrown in his 
way by the clergy, in the presence of his trav¬ 
eling companions. All of these, excepting 
the Professor of Theology, Nicolas von Ams¬ 
dorf and his brother Jacob, here left him for 


154 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


the purpose of proceeding to Wittenberg by 
way of Gotha, whilst he traveled to Mohra 
to visit his relatives at that place. His old 
grandmother lived there, in the family of his 
uncle Heinz Luther, a substantial farmer, who 
entertained him during his brief sojourn. Be¬ 
sides this uncle, there lived there at the same 
time another uncle Hans, and many other 
relations. 

In great haste, Luther wrote from Eisenach 
to the Count of Mansfeld, to inform him of 
the proceedings at Worms.* He had gone to 
Mohra alone, but on May 3, Amsdorf and his 
brother Jacob joined him at that place. The 
old grandmother, who died soon afterwards, 
had the inexpressible joy of hearing her cel¬ 
ebrated grandson preach under a linden tree, 
as the tradition still exists among the people.f 
This linden tree was still standing before the 
Lutheran family dwelling forty years ago, and 
must have been over five hundred years old. 
The chapel was much too small to accommo¬ 
date the crowd, for it is likely that his numer¬ 
ous relatives, as well as other friends of the 


* De Wette, i. 601. 

| Biuchner and Heim report that it was a pear tree. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


155 


family from the neighboring villages gathered 
together to see and hear the man who had 
created such an excitement all over the coun¬ 
try, so that Luther could well write : “ I have 
traveled through the forest to visit my own 
kindred, who are so numerous as to occupy 
nearly the whole region.” 

He was at that time thirty-eight years of 
age, “ of medium stature, very firmly built, but 
so emaciated by cares and study that, upon a 
near approach, you could count all his bones. 
In his countenance, which plainly betrayed 
night vigils and internal conflicts, there glowed 
two fiery eyes, whose penetrating glance it was 
hard to endure.” Thus he rose in Mohra as a 
preacher. At that time he still wore the 
monk’s cowl. 

The next day, May 4th, after the sermon, 
he left this place, accompanied by a large 
number of the villagers, with Amsdorf and his 
brother Jacob, who was desirous of passing 
through Wattershausen in his company on the 
way to his own home. The carriage, as has 
been stated, was furnished by the town council 
of Wittenberg, but a relative at Mohra pro¬ 
vided two fresh horses for it. Thus the journey 


156 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


was resumed through the small hamlet Wald- 
fisch, and the larger place, Schweina, through 
which they passed between four and five 
o’clock in the afternoon. 

The further narratives do not harmonize; 
the one by Pollock follows that of Pastor 
Hattenbach, at Schweina, who lived one hun¬ 
dred years after this event, and recorded it in 
the Church Book. Although we cannot 
understand how Myconius * is here mentioned 
as Luther’s traveling companion besides Ams- 
dorf, which other authorities do not mention, 
yet, upon the whole, we follow this narrative, 
which in other respects is most credible. 

We proceed, then, according to the report 
of Pollock, the most recent investigator. 

A steep hill, where he begged his relations 
from Mohra to return, required slow progress, 
hence it was rather late in the day when they 
reached the narrow defile near the chapel. 
Here the mystery, into which he had not been 

* In the lapse of one hundred years, much that is erroneous 
may have been mingled with tradition, which often, but 
falsely, represents Justas Jonas as his companion up to this 
time, who separated from Luther at Eisenach. Myconius 
could easily be interchanged with Jonas. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


IS; 


entirely initiated, was to be suddenly solved: 
for quite unexpectedly there rushed out of the 
forest a horseman with his visor down, followed 
by four others, to the attack. 

The entrance of the carriage into this place 
was the sign agreed upon for this adventure. 
Whether it was led by Berlepsch or Burkhard 
Hund, is not known; the others were only 
armed horsemen, but none recognizable on 
account of their visors. Brother Jacob leaped 
from the vehicle as soon as he saw the men, 
and fled. One of the assailants seized the 
horses by the bridles, whilst he roughly asked 
the coachman what sort of people occupied 
the carriage; and, in ordering him to stop, 
gave him such a severe blow with his cross¬ 
bow that he rolled under a horse. In the 
meantime, two of the horsemen advanced and 
asked which one of the travelers was Luther; 
and as the latter made himself known, one of 
them held a stretched cross-bow before him, 
and demanded a surrender. His companion 
Amsdorf* begged for mercy, but Luther, 
rightly comprehending the circumstance, whis- 

* Pollock adds the name of Myconius, for which we have 
no warranty. 

14 



I5« 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


pered for his comfort, “Confide, amici nostri 
sunt!” (Be of good courage, they are our 
friends). These are words which could be 
spoken to only one man; otherwise, if Myconius 
had been present, he would have used the 
plural number. Upon this, Luther was 
dragged from the carriage, his clerical vest¬ 
ments were exchanged for the cloak of a 
knight, and, being led into the forest, he was 
ordered to mount a horse. It is said that he 
drank from a spring at the foot of a beech tree 
near Schweina (Steinbach), and it has ever 
since been called Luther’s spring.* Accord¬ 
ing to another narrative, when he was violently 
forced out of the vehicle, he exclaimed: “Hell, 
dost thou conquer? ” This exclamation could 
be so interpreted, as if he presumed he had 
been captured by his enemies in a region 
which still rigorously held to the Romish 

*On July, 18, 1841, the old decayed Luther beech, which 
had been carefully guarded, was almost totally destroyed by 
a violent tempest. Only the remnant of the lower stock 
remained with a fresh growing branch, and his highness, 
the reigning Duke of Saxemeinungen, erected a plain but 
tasteful stone monument beside it, which was dedicated on 
July 26, 1867. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 1 59 

doctrine; but it is easily reconciled with the 
words he addressed to Amsdorf, for he was 
well aware of the diabolical measures by which 
he was persecuted, and which rendered seclu¬ 
sion from the world necessary. If this infernal 
spirit had not prevailed, his capture and con¬ 
cealment would have been superfluous. 

Luther’s brother, full of anxiety and almost 
overcome with alarm, fled as soon as possible 
to Wattershausen to convey the melancholy 
message of the attack, whilst Amsdorf, quite 
composed, pursued his course through the 
villages of Schmerbach and Longenhain. In 
the meantime, the knights conducted Luther 
farther into the forest, and bound a man on 
another horse, as though they had captured a 
felon in an expedition. 

As it was not yet dark, it was important to 
make it appear that Wartburg was not the 
place to which they were going, for in that 
case they must have taken the direction 
towards Ruhla or Etterwinden; but they took 
the road towards Brotterode, for the purpose 
of misleading any traveler or woodman they 
might meet, as to their design; for this reason 
they pursued a roundabout course in the 


l 60 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

direction of Brotterode, and arrived at the 
Wartburg at about eleven o’clock at night. 

Luther thus expressed himself in a letter to 
Spalatin upon this event: 

“ I, who went to visit ray kindred through 
the forest to Mohra (for they own nearly all 
the land in that vicinity), as we were proceed¬ 
ing along to Wattershausen, was taken captive 
at a little distance from the castle Altenstein, 
but the precise place I do not know. My 
brother, who observed the knights in time, 
hastily scrambled from the carriage, and is said 
to have arrived on foot at Wattershausen 
quite unexpectedly. I am now here, and was 
compelled to lay off my own clothes, to put 
on the costume of a knight, and to let my 
beard and hair grow, so that you would hardly 
know me, for I scarcely know myself. I now 
enjoy Christian liberty, entirely absolved from 
the laws of tyrants; but I would prefer that 
my enemies should put me to death whilst I 
was preaching, if it should please God that I 
should suffer for the sake of his word. The 
will of the Lord be done 1 ” 

The place where Luther was captured was 
behind the castle Altenstein, not far from a 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. l6l 

deserted church, Glissbach, in a narrow defile. 
Fifteen or twenty miles had been traversed 
since the capture, so that Luther, who was 
unwell from the time he left Worms, was 
weary and exhausted when, as he afterwards 
wrote to Amsdorf, he alighted from his horse. 
The knights, with some degree of affected 
violence, shut up the captive doctor in an 
apartment, so that the guardian of the gate 
might believe that they had brought into 
custody some malefactor arrested on the road. 
Of the successful execution of the plan, 
Myconius thus speaks: 

“ It was never before heard that an affair 
could be kept so secret as this, as to who it 
was that captured and conducted Luther away. 
It was believed by many persons, and even by 
the Diet, that it was a real imprisonment, so 
secretly was it executed.” 

That this event should not continue to be 
unknown in the vicinity, can be presumed from 
the associated circumstances; although neither 
was the place of Luther’s concealment known, 
nor was it certain that the capture was effected 
by friends or enemies. This we know, that 
Luther’s uncle (probably Heinz Luther) men- 
14* * L 


162 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

tioned the abduction of his nephew to Canon 
George Konig, in Eisenach, with the remark 
that the knights had taken the road toward 
Brotterode. Afterward the report was circu¬ 
lated among the people, probably through a 
squire of the knights, and transmitted from 
mouth to mouth, until it was recorded in the 
Church Book by Pastor Hattenbach, at 
Schweina. 

When this pastor includes Myconius as a 
traveling companion, as above stated, it is very 
probably a transposition for Jonas, who, 
according to some writers, accompanied 
Luther to Mohra. But this does not harmon¬ 
ize with Luther’s own account of his fellow 
travelers, who left him in Eisenach, whilst it 
is not to be overlooked that the cotemporary 
of Luther, Mathesius, gives only Amsdorf as 
his companion, which is indisputably the most 
correct account. 

AT THE WARTBURG, AND FIRST JOURNEY TO 
WITTENBERG. 

As Luther himself tells us, he was conducted 
by by-paths to the Wartburg as Squire George, 
at eleven o’clock at night, weary and exhausted. 
In a letter to Amsdorf he thus speaks : 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


163 

“At eleven o’clock at night on the day on 
which I was violently torn away from you, 
and after a long journey, I was brought to this 
refuge, as a new knight (Knight George). 
Here I am now idle, like a free man among 
prisoners.” * 

It was Saturday night on which he was 
conducted to a lofty apartment in this knight¬ 
ly residence (Luther’s Room), where he was 
handsomely served, having two pages to wait 
upon him. The apartment, which is still 
shown to visitors, contains some mementos of 
the great reformer, among which is the ink 
spot upon the wall, concerning which there are 
two traditions. One is, that the devil, in order 
to hinder the translation of the Bible, appeared 
to the reformer in bodily form on the wall, but 
instantly disappeared when Luther violently 
hurled the inkstand at him; whilst the other is 
that a large blue-bottle fly was constantly buz¬ 
zing about the translator’s head, who, taking 
it for the devil, threw the ink-stand at it when 
it sat against the wall.f 

* De Wette, ii. 3. 

f Moritz von Schwind. Sein Leben u. Kunstlerisches 
Schafifen ins besondere auf der Wartburg, von August W. 
Mueller, Eisenach, 1871. 



164 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

His relation to his host, notwithstanding the 
great difference in the social positions of the 
two men, was of the most satisfactory char¬ 
acter. 

Most of the officers connected with the 
castle at that time were knights of noble birth, 
but the nobility of the chief irresistibly suc¬ 
cumbed to the exalted genius of his celebrated 
captive, whose eagle eye, as Erasmus called it, 
did not blanch before his proud gaze; whose 
bewitching conversation, conveyed in a sonor¬ 
ous voice, secured his profound esteem; and 
whose discriminating judgment and sparkling 
wit seasoned their daily intercourse. (Pollock.) 

Luther took pains to make as few demands 
as possible on the distinguished hospitality 
which the chief of the castle showed him, 
apprehending that he might be a burden to 
the household. Besides the two pages who 
waited on him, the untitled persons connected 
with the castle were two armed retainers, a 
secretary, the chaplain, a cook, a steward, a 
gate keeper, two watchmen and a muleteer, 
lastly a schoolmaster from Eisenach, who of¬ 
ficiated as vicar at an altar in the chapel. The 
new Squire, in order to complete the disguise, 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 1 65 

allowed his beard and hair to grow, wore a red 
square cap, a coat with armorial bearings, oc¬ 
casionally a sword, and probably also a mili¬ 
tary cloak to protect him against wind and 
weather. After some time the disguise was so 
perfect, that he wrote to Spalatin he would 
hardly again recognize him, for—as he sport¬ 
ively adds—he does not know himself. 

The sudden disappearance of Luther created 
general astonishment, as well among his friends 
as also among the papists; the latter even, 
after all their search was in vain, consulted 
soothsayers and magicians to unravel the facts. 
One report was circulated in Eisenach that 
friends from Franconia had conveyed him to a 
place of safety; another was, that one of the 
two Counts of Henneberg had captured him, 
which he indignantly denied. Full of painful 
anxiety, the Strassburger jurist Gerbell sent a 
letter from Worms to a friend through Spala¬ 
tin, in which he begs for information whether 
he is yet living, as the most contradictory re¬ 
ports concerning his fate were in circulation. 
Amsdorf and Spalatin alone knew the place 
of his concealment; the former through Lu¬ 
ther, when the cautious custodian Berlepsch 


1 66 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

allowed him to write after the lapse of a few 
weeks, for he had even compelled him to tear 
up some letters to his Wittenberg friends, for 
he thought it as yet too soon to forward them; 
and how happy was Melanchthon when he 
could send the j'oyful intelligence to their 
common friend, Wenzel Link, in Wurtberg, 
“ Our dearest father still lives !” 

Gradually, however, notwithstanding all the 
caution of his friends, his enemies seemed to 
get on the track of his concealment. When 
Berlepsch, full of apprehension, communicated 
this fact to him, Luther declared his willing¬ 
ness to exchange this asylum for another, and 
mentioned this to Spalatin. 

On one occasion he employed a little 
trickery to deceive his enemies. In a letter to 
Spalatin he encloses another, dated at an im¬ 
aginary place, which the latter was purposely 
to lose, so that it might fall into their hands, 
and thus lead them into error. This measure 
seemed to have a good effect; he remained 
composed, even if not unassailed. 

Let us now turn to the manner of his life at 
the Wartburg. Luther, called by Providence 
to fulfil such a momentous destiny, could not 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


167 


long be unemployed here, but devoted the time 
of his concealment, notwithstanding frequent 
attacks of sickness and unspeakable anxieties, 
to the glory of God and the welfare of the 
evangelical church, to such an extent that we 
must contemplate his industry with amaze¬ 
ment. 

Here on the Wartburg, which he called his 
“ Patmos,” his “ mountain,” his “wilderness,” 
his “river in the air,” his “ region of the birds/* 
etc., he wrote the church and house Postils, the 
first of which he called his best book; trans¬ 
lated some psalms, wrote a large number of 
letters to his friends, answered his opponents, 
and imparted good counsel wherever he could. 

He also wrote treatises against auricular 
confession, private masses, monastic vows, and 
• the celibacy of the clergy. To a good friend 
he wrote thus concerning his labors: “ I am 
overburned with labor; I must preach twice a 
day. I am translating the psalms, writing the 
Postils, replying to my opponents, editing the 
pope’s decretal in Latin and German, and pro¬ 
tect myself in general. I will not mention my 
correspondence and other obstructions which 
are daily occurring, at one time on account of 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


168 

those who are around me, and at another with 
strangers who wish to speak to me and seek 
advice.”* 

But the most important of all was another 
immortal work for which the world is indebted 
to his retirement at the Wartburg—that was 
the translation of the New Testament into the 
German language, which he accomplished 
here, but which he reviewed and improved by 
the aid of his friends in Wittenberg in 1522. 
The translation of the Old Testament was not 
finished until twelve years afterwards, in 1534. 

“ I will in the meantime,” he writes, “ trans¬ 
late the New Testament into our mother 
tongue, as our people desire it. I wish that 
every town had its own translator, and that 
this book were in the hands and hearts of all.” 
“ I have loaded myself with a burden that ex¬ 
ceeds my strength. Now I see for the first 
time what work a translation requires, and 
why until now no one has ventured upon it in 
his own name. I hope we shall give our Ger¬ 
man people a better translation than the Latins 
have. It is a great work, and well deserves 
the combined labor of us all.” “ Ah !” says 


* Hall. A. Thl. iv. 1622. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 1 69 

he in another place, “ it is a hard and meritori¬ 
ous work to compel the Hebrew writers to 
speak German. How they bristle up, and will 
not abandon their Hebrew peculiarity to follow 
the unpolished German. Just as if a nightin¬ 
gale would cease her charming melody, and 
imitate a cuckoo.” 

With God’s help, Luther by industry and 
untiring patience succeeded in accomplishing 
what no man had done before. Although 
there had been before his time several German 
translations of the Scriptures, yet Luther’s was 
far superior to them all. Prince George of 
Anhalt thus expressed himself upon that 
work : “ Luther, endowed by peculiar grace 
and gifts of the Holy Ghost, has translated into 
the German language, the Bible from the He¬ 
brew and Greek, in a style at once pure, dis¬ 
tinct and intelligible.” 

When Luther himself relates that he 
preached at the Wartburg, they were not pub¬ 
lic sermons, as is often erroneously assumed, 
but his audience consisted only of the 
castellan and some intimate friends of the 
household, as his cotemporary and pupil, 
Mathesius, informs us. 

G 


170 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

After he had at an earlier date (June 1) 
dedicated to Franz von Sickingen, who had 
invited him to his castle Ebernburg in 1520, 
his little book on Absolution, and to his 
father, in a letter of November 21, his treatise 
on The Rejection of Monastic Vows, his heart , 
was filled with an ardent longing for Witten¬ 
berg. 

But before we speak of this secret expedi¬ 
tion, we must mention the recreations which 
he sought after severe and protracted labor. 

If his body was often racked with pain, 
growing out of an obstinate constipation, so 
also his mind often contended with horrible 
fancies. He was furnished with medicine from 
Wittenberg, and he was urgently advised to 
seek relaxation and exercise out of doors. 
When he followed this advice, his sufferings 
were to some extent relieved. He gathered 
strawberries in the vicinity of the castle, and 
took walks in the neighboring valley, and, on 
one occasion, he was pursuaded to indulge in 
the pleasures of the chase. In relation to 
this, he writes to Spalatin: 

• " I have been two days on the chase, for I 
wished to enjoy the laborious luxury of the 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. I/I 

great lords; it is a pursuit that may well suit 
idle people, but I indulged in theological re¬ 
flections amid the capture of marmots and the 
howling of dogs.” 

He also made excursions to Eisenach, 
Gotha, Jena, Erfurt, Marksuhl, where he had 
relatives, and to the monastery, Reinhards- 
brunnen.* 

In relation to Gotha and Jena, Myconius 
informs us that Luther told him and others, 
that in his disguise, he had frequent inter¬ 
course with monks and others, without being 
recognized. 

On one occasion, when accompanied by his 
servant, he rode to Erfurt, where he stopped 
at the tavern of “The High Lily,” and very 
freely expressed his opinion of some books 
lying there, and also got into a violent contro¬ 
versy with various persons, so that he was 
really in danger of being discovered, his ser¬ 
vant rescued him by saying, “Mr. Knight! 
Mr. Knight! you must not dispute so much 
about books, but it becomes you to use your 
sword vigorously.”f 

* Mathesius. 

f Koch’s Erzahlung von Wartburg, 168 , 




172 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


But above all, the secret excursion to 
Wittenberg, so unexpectedly undertaken, de¬ 
serves mention, which, according to the report 
of Mathesius, occurred in November, and in 
all probability on the 22d of that month, 1521. 

In a letter to Spalatin on January 17, 1522, 
Luther thus expresses himself: 

“ The common clamor moved me to go to 
Wittenberg, to see how things stood.”* 

Luther had heard that the Augustinians at 
Wittenberg were considering the abolition of 
the mass and renunciation of monastic vows, 
and he feared that perilous disorder might 
ensue. Probably he had previously sent them 
his treatise upon the abuses of the mass, to in¬ 
struct and establish them.f 

But he thought it more advisable to appear 
personally in Wittenberg, and give them oral 
directions. His strong desire was expressed 
in his own words, “ Oh ! that I were only in 
Wittenberg!” What he desired, he soon ful- 


*Seckendorf, 458. This letter is not in De Wette. 
f De Wette. 11. 105. This treatise appeared in German, 
Vom Misbrauch der Messen, 1522, and in Latin, De abro- 
ganda missa privatse Martini Lutheri sententia, also in 1522, 
and is found in every edition of his works. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


173 


filled. Perhaps he had already received some 
information of the disturbances occasioned by 
Carlstadt’s fanatical zeal.* * 

At least, it is certain that on his way he 
heard of them, as appears from a letter to 
Spalatin dated Wittenberg. “On my way,” 
says he, “ I was informed that some of our 
people had conducted themselves disorderly, 
and this determined me te issue a public ad¬ 
monition as soon as I shall return to my 
wilderness or solitude.”f 

He went to Amsdorf’s house where Me- 
lanchthon lived, and speaks of the “ sweet 
enjoyment” he had with his friends. He 
mentions it in a letter from Wittenberg to 
Spalatin, which also shows that he found the 
condition of things more favorable than he 
had believed, for he expressly says, “ Every¬ 
thing I see and hear, pleases me well: God 
strengthen the spirit of those who are sin¬ 
cere.” x 

*Seckendorf. Lib. I, 183. 

f Seckendorf. 497. 

I Omnia vehementa placent, quae video et audio; Domi- 
nus comfortet spiritum eorum, qui bene volunt; quemquam 
per vitam vexatus rumore vario de nostrorum quorandam 

* 5 * 



174 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


After he had seen his friends and ascertained 
the state of affairs at Wittenberg and after in¬ 
structing the Augustinians in relation to them, 
he returned to Wartburg, until a real storm 
again called him there, which we shall con¬ 
sider in the next chapter. 

THE OCCASION OF THE SECOND JOURNEY TO 
WITTENBERG. 1522 . 

The following circumstances led to this 
second tour: 

Although his position at the Wartburg was 
comfortable and every convenience in attend¬ 
ance and fare was furnished him, all this could 
not satisfy him. He writes, “ I would rather 
be roasted over glowing coals for the honor 
of God’s word and for the establishment of 
my own faith and that of others, than be only 
half living and rotting here in my solitude. 

“ God forbid that I should entirely lose my 
spiritual life. The poor harassed man is 
almost constantly sick, and sleep flies from his 

importunitate, praestituerim publicam exhortatione edere,® 
quam primum reversus fuero ad eramum meam.” Compare 
De Wette, ii. 104. 

a Probably the tract which appeared in 1523 under the title : “ Eine treu 
Vermahnungzu alien Christen sich zu hiiten vor Aufruhr u. Emporung.” 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 1/5 

weary eyes, but he is above all tormented by 
spiritual temptations; the devil begins with 
him a disputation in his heart on all points 
relating to his Reformation work; to this are 
superadded temptations of the flesh and other 
grievances, that sometimes for days he cannot 
write, nor pray, nor study; and he would rather 
endure ten wounds on his body than these 
disorders.” 

Whilst the light of the gospel was gradually 
spreading in many parts of Germany, the spirit 
of evangelical liberty was particularly active in 
Saxony. Until this time, men were contented 
in their sermons to bear testimony against ex¬ 
isting abuses, but they had not yet ventured 
to abolish them openly, under the very correct 
impression that they would fall of themselves, 
when first the purer faith should be deeply 
grounded in the hearts of men. But not all 
the advocates of the Reformation possessed 
this spirit of self-denial and of patient waiting, 
and Carlstadt was one of them. The abolition 
of private masses by the Augustinians did not 
satisfy him. He began his new measures by 
marrying, and celebrated his wedding with 
great pomp; after that, he gathered a crowd 


176 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


of citizens and students, violently broke into 
the Castle church at Wittenberg and demol¬ 
ished the pictures and altars and everything 
connected with Romish superstition, distributed 
the Lord’s Supper in two kinds, and allowed 
every one to partake without previous confes¬ 
sion and absolution. He found a willing co¬ 
worker in Gabriel Didymus. At the same 
time, a new school of prophets arose in that 
city. During Luther’s absence, some of these 
modern prophets, who claimed divine inspira¬ 
tion, came from Zwickau to Wittenberg. They 
rejected infant baptism and the doctrine of the 
Trinity, and scorned human learning.* They 
called the Holy Scriptures the external word 
and put them in a position subordinate to the 
internal word, which was their own inspira¬ 
tions, and maintained that all human govern¬ 
ment should be abolished. 

Carlstadt with Didymus (Zwilling) afforded 
special assistance to these Anabaptists, and 
they were really the occasion of Luther’s 
abandoning his solitude, who endeavored by 

* Their leaders were, Thomas Miinzer, Nicolas Storch, 
Balthazar Hubmaier, Marcus Stiibner, John Denk and Lud* 
wig Hetzer. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


1 77 

his presence to restore quiet, as appears from 
a letter which he wrote to Wenceslaus Link 
on March 19, 1522. 

“ Satan has appeared' in my sheepfold, and 
has taught the abuse of liberty to the occasion 
of the flesh, that they, by forgetting the law 
of serving one another in love, have filled 
everything with the spirit of faction and dis¬ 
cord. Carlstadt and Gabriel are the authors 
of these abominations. These reasons have 
led me to return again, so that, if Christ will, 
I will spoil this play of the devil.” * 

All those also who had the good cause at 
heart, urged him to come to Wittenberg, to 
check this disorder. 

THE SECOND JOURNEY FROM THE WART- 
BURG TO WITTENBERG, ERFURT 
AND JENA. 1522. 

It was not the Elector’s wish that Luther 
should leave the Wartburg. Hence he wrote 
to Burgomaster John Oswald to inform Luther 
that he was at liberty to give his advice con¬ 
cerning the disorders that had arisen in Wit¬ 
tenberg, but that he should by no means 


* De Wette, ii., 135 . 


M 



i ;8 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


appear there in person, because the pope and 
the Emperor might demand that he be deliv¬ 
ered up, and that he (the Elector) would not 
know how in that event to exculpate himself.* 
That this order was made known to Luther 
already at the Wartburg, appears from a letter 
to the Elector of May 5, in which he says, 
“Your Electoral Grace’s letter and opinion 
came to me on the Friday evening before the 
day on which I intended to set out on my 
journey.” 

But Luther’s conscience compelled him to 
go, although the enterprise demanded a heroic 
courage; for the imperial ban had not yet been 
recalled, and any villain might have murdered 
him on the public highway with impunity. 

That he feared no danger, and that he re¬ 
garded his departure as God’s command, 
which was more binding on him than that of 
his Sovereign, faithfully as he was devoted to 
him in all other respects, appears from his own 
words: “Yes,” says he, “ I am bound to suffer 
death for them (the salvation of souls); and 
that, by God’s grace and help, I will cheerfuly 
do. God compels and calls, and the cause is 


* Seckendorf, 450. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 179 

urgent. It must and will be so; so be it also 
in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord of life 
and death.” He in this affair, as in all others, 
sought not his own, but the honor of God 
alone. 

In all probability, Luther left the Wartburg 
on Sunday, March 2, with the knowledge of 
the castellan. He was dressed in the vestment 
of a knight, and wore a long beard. He took 
the way through Erfurt, where, as on previous 
occasions, he stopped at “ The High Lily.” 
At the table he encountered a popish priest, 
who boasted that he could point out a hundred 
errors in Luther’s doctrines, but when he was 
challenged to the proof, he could not produce 
one.* 

Probably Luther remained here that night, 
and traveled the next day to Jena, which he 
reached in the evening, March 3d. In Jena, 
he went to the tavern, “ The Black Bear,” and 
there met two young students from Switzer¬ 
land, John Kessler and John Reutiner, of St. 
Gall. Kessler, who afterwards studied at 
Basel and at Wittenberg under Luther and 
Melanchthon, and returned to St. Gall in 1523, 


*Toppius, in der Historie von Eisenach, 164. 



l80 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

has left us a report of this interview as a valu¬ 
able bequest from his own pen.* We believe 
that we are not performing a thankless act by- 
introducing here the whole report, in all the 
simplicity of its style: 

“ Here I cannot help (although it may seem 
a small matter, and even childish) to relate 
how I, John Kessler, and my traveling com¬ 
panion, John Reutiner, met Martin Luther on 
his way to Wittenberg from his prison at the 
Wartburg. During our journey as students to 
Wittenberg, we came to Jena, in Thuringia 
(and God knows in what sort of horrible 
weather!), and after many inquiries in the 
town concerning a place to stop at over night, 
we could not find one in which they would en¬ 
tertain us. Everywhere they refused us ad¬ 
mittance. It was Shrove Tuesday, a time 
when, there and elsewhere, they do not care 
about taking in strangers. We then left the 
town to go farther, to a little village, where we 
could be entertained. As we were going out 
of the gate, a good-natured man asked us 
very kindly where we were going so late in 
the evening; for we could not reach house nor 


* Helvetic Almanac, 180S, p. 121. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. l8l 

any other place to sleep in, besides, it was very 
easy to lose our way; and hence he would ad¬ 
vise us to stay here all night. We answered: 

“ ‘ Dear cousin, we have been to all the tav¬ 
erns to which we were directed, and we have 
everywhere been refused, and we must of 
necessity go farther.’ He then asked, 
‘ Whether we had also applied at “ The Black 
Bear” for lodgings.’ We answered, ‘ We 
knew nothing about it—please tell us where it 
is.’ He then directed us to proceed a little 
distance from the town. We there saw ‘ The 
Black Bear,’ and we, who had been turned 
away from every other place, were hospitably 
received by the landlord. He came himself to 
the door, and kindly offered to entertain us, 
and conducted us to the guest-room. Here 
we saw a man sitting alone at a table, and a 
little book lying before him; he saluted us po¬ 
litely, and invited us to take our seats by him 
at the table. Our shoes (allow me to say it) 
were so covered with mud that we were 
ashamed to enter the room, and we sat down 
on a bench near the door. Then he invited us 
to drink, which we could not refuse him. 
After we had perceived his kindness and gen- 
16 


182 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


tleness, we took courage and took our seats 
with him at the table, as he had invited us, or¬ 
dered a portion of wine, so that we might in¬ 
vite him to do us the honor to drink with us, 
for we were of the opinion that he was a 
knight; for, according to the custom of the 
country, he wore a red cap, slashed breeches 
and doublet, a sword at his side, his right hand 
grasping the pommel and his left the hilt. 

“ He soon began to ask us ‘ where we were 
born/but he answered it himself. ‘You are 
Swiss—from what part of Switzerland are 
you ? ’ 

“ We replied, ‘ From St. Gall/ He then 
said, ‘If you are going to Wittenberg, you 
will there find some excellent fellow-country¬ 
men ; for example, Hieronymus Schurf, and 
his brother, Dr. Augustin.’ 

“ We said, ‘ We have letters to them/ 

“ Then we asked, ‘ Sir, can you tell us 
whether Dr. Luther is at present in Witten¬ 
berg ? or if not, where is he ? ’ 

“ He replied, ‘ I have certain information 
that Luther is not at this time in Wittenberg, 
but he will be there before long. But Philip 
Melanchthon is there; he teaches the Greek 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 183 

language; and there are others who teach 
Hebrew, both of which I would advise you to 
study. They are necessary to a right under¬ 
standing of the Holy Scriptures.’ 

“ We said, ‘ God be praised! for if God 
should spare our lives we will give ourselves 
no rest until we see and hear the man, for we 
have undertaken our journey on his account; 
we have heard how he has undertaken to over¬ 
throw the popish priesthood, together with the 
mass, as unscriptural, and, of course, as con¬ 
stituting no part of worship.’ 

“ * As we have been destined by our parents 
for the priesthood, we are anxious to know 
what kind of instruction he would give us, 
and on what grounds he expects to execute 
his enterprise.’ 

“ He then inquired, ‘ Where have you 
studied ? ’ 

“ ‘ At Basel.’ 

“ ‘ What is the state of things at Basel ? Is 
Erasmus there yet; and what is he doing ? ’ 

“ ‘ Sir, as far as we know, things are going 
on well. But as to what Erasmus is doing, is 
unknown to anybody; he leads a very se¬ 
cluded life.’ 


184 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


“ It surprised us very much to hear this 
knight talk about Schurf, Philip, and Erasmus, 
and also of the necessity of studying the 
Greek and Hebrew languages. Besides, he 
occasionally let fall a few Latin words, which 
led us to think he was some other person than 
an ordinary knight. 

“‘Young man,’ he asked, ‘what do they 
think of Luther in Switzerland ? ’ 

“ ‘ Sir, there are various opinions concerning 
him, just as everywhere else. Some cannot 
sufficiently exalt him, and thank God that the 
truth has been brought to light through him, 
and that he has exposed the errors and immo¬ 
rality of the church; and some, especially the 
clergy, condemn him as an intolerable heretic.’ 

“ He observed, ‘ I can well understand how 
it is among the priests.’ 

“ During this conversation, he became to us 
a still greater mystery, for my companion took 
the book lying before him, and peeping into it, 
found it was a Hebrew Psalter. He laid it 
down immediately, and the knight removed it. 
This circumstance enhanced our doubts as to 
his identity, and my friend said, ‘ I would give 
my finger if I understood that language.’ 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. I 85 

“He replied, ‘You could easily learn it, if 
you gave proper attention to it. I myself de¬ 
sire to learn more about it, and diligently 
study it every day.’ 

“When it was quite dark, the landlord ap¬ 
proached the table. When he heard of our in¬ 
tense desire to see and hear Martin Luther, he 
said, ‘ My dear fellows, if you had been here 
two days ago you would have seen him, for he 
was seated at this very table.’ That astonished 
and chagrined us that we were so long on our 
journey, and we blamed it on the muddy and al¬ 
most impassible roads, but we said, ‘ We are, 
however, still glad to be in the same house 
where he sat at the table.’ The landlord 
laughed and left the room. After a brief 
pause, he called me out. I was alarmed, and 
asked myself of what evil I was suspected. 
The landlord then said, ‘ As I believe you are 
sincere in your desire to hear and see Luther, 
I will tell you that is he who is now seated at 
that table.’ 

“ I thought he was jesting, and said, 1 Mr. 
Landlord, you want to play a trick on me, 
and to satisfy my longing to see Luther 
with a phantom.’ 


1 86 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

“ He replied, ‘ I tell you he’s the man ; but 
do not let him know it.’ 

“ I could not believe it, and returning to the 
room, seated myself at the table, and was anx¬ 
ious to let my companion know what the land¬ 
lord had told me. I turned towards the door 
and opposite to him, whispered secretly, ‘ The 
landlord told me that man is Luther!’ He 
would not at first believe it, as I did not, and 
observed, ‘ Perhaps he said Hutten, and you 
did not rightly understand him.’ 

“ As the knightly costume of the man was 
better adapted to Hutten, a Knight, than to 
Luther, a monk, I thought myself that proba¬ 
bly the landlord had said Hutten, for the be¬ 
ginning of the two names sound somewhat 
similar. Hence, I concluded that I had been 
speaking all the time with Ulrich von Hutten. 

“Just at this time, two traveling merchants 
entered, who had intended to spend the night 
at The Black Bear. After they had taken off 
their cloaks and spurs, one of them laid by 
him an unbound book. 

“ Martin asked, ‘ What is that book ?’ He 
answered, ‘ That is Martin Luther’s explana¬ 
tion of several gospels and epistles, just printed 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 187 

and published ; haven’t you seen it ?’ Martin 
replied, ‘ I will soon have it also.’ 

“ The landlord then said, ‘ Supper is ready ; 
we will now eat!’ We requested him to be 
patient with us, and provide something apart 
for us, for we did not like to sit down with the 
other guests who could afford to pay for a 
good supper. 

“ ‘ My dear fellows !’ he said, ‘ Sit down 
with the gentlemen; I will charge you very 
moderately.’ 

“ When Luther heard that, he said, ‘ Only 
come; I will settle the score with the landlord.’ 

“ During the meal, Martin uttered so many 
pious thoughts and striking truths, that the 
merchants and we were astonished. We paid 
more regard to his words than to the victuals 
before us, so deeply were we interested. 
Among other things, with a sigh, he said, 
‘At the present time the princes and great 
lords are assembled at the Diet at Nurnberg, 
to consider the religious grievances of the 
German nation, but nothing will be done ex¬ 
cept indulging in eating and drinking and 
other irregularities; but these are our Christian 
princes.’ 


188 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


“ He further said, ‘That he hoped evan¬ 
gelical truth would bring more fruit among 
our children and successors than among the 
parents, for the former will not be poisoned by 
the errors of popery, but are well instructed in 
the pure truth and God’s word. The errors 
are deeply rooted in the parents, and cannot 
easily be eradicated.’ 

“ Upon this, the merchants also expressed 
their opinion, and the elder of them said, ‘ I 
am a simple layman, and do not well under¬ 
stand these church difficulties; but this I say, 
as the thing appears to me, Luther must be 
either an angel from heaven, or the devil from 
hell. I would give ten guilders if I could con¬ 
fess to him, for I believe he could instruct my 
conscience.’ 

“ The landlord then came and whispered to 
us, ‘ Don’t be anxious about the reckoning ; 
Martin has paid for you.* We were rejoiced 
at this, not because our money was saved, but 
because we were so highly complimented as to 
be entertained at the expense of such a man. 

“ After supper the merchants rose and went 
into the stable to see that their horses were 
properly fed and groomed. Martin remained 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


I89 


a'one with us in the room; we thanked him for 
his hospitality, and at the same time observed, 
that we regarded him as being Ulrich von 
Hutten. 

“ He replied, ‘ I am not he.’ Just then the 
landlord came in, and Martin said, ‘ I have 
been made a nobleman this evening, for these 
Swiss take me to be Ulrich von Hutten.’ 

“The landlord replied, ‘ You are not he, but 
you are Martin Luther.’ 

“ He laughed at that, and said, ‘ These men 
take me to be Hutten, and you think I am 
Luther; I should be called Martin Marcolfns !* 

“ Then he rose, threw his cloak over his 
shoulder, took leave, and shaking us by the 
hand, said, ‘ When you get to Wittenberg, 
salute Dr. Hieronymus Schurf for me.’ We 
said, ‘ Most willingly will we do that—but 
what name will we give ?’ He replied, ‘ Say 
nothing more than, He who is coming, salutes 
you—he will understand it; valete Domini /’ 
With these words he left and retired to his 
chamber. 


*Marcolfus was a monk, who, in the seventh century, 
wrote on the laws relating to cloisters. I do not understand 
the appropriateness of Luther’s allusion.—J. G. M. 



I9O JOURNEYS OF LUTHER 

“ After this, the merchants returned, and or¬ 
dered more refreshments, and commenced 
speaking of the man who had been at the 
table with them, and wondering who he was. 
The landlord insisted that it was Luther, and 
at last they were persuaded of it, but were 
sorry that they had spoken so unbecomingly 
in his presence, and said that in the morning 
they would rise early before he departed and 
apologize to him. They found him in the 
stable in the morning, and in reply to their 
excuses, he remarked, ‘ Last evening you said 
you would give ten guilders if you could con¬ 
fess to Luther; if you confessed to him, and 
offered him your money to buy your absolution, 
you would soon find out whether I am Martin 
Luther.’ And to avoid being further recog¬ 
nized, he mounted his horse, and rode off 
towards Wittenberg. 

“ On the same day we also set out for the 
same place. We came to a village at the foot 
of a hill; a stream flows through it, which was 
swollen so high on account of a heavy rain 
that part of the bridge was carried away, so 
that it could not be crossed on horseback. 
We went to an inn, and there we found the 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. I9I 

two merchants, who there, for Luther’s sake, 
also paid our reckoning. 

“ On the Saturday after, we arrived at 
Wittenberg, and went immediately to Dr. 
Schurf to deliver our letters. On entering the 
room, we there saw Martin just as we had seen 
him at Jena, with Philip Melanchthon, Justus 
Jonas, Nicolas Amsdorf, Dr. Augustin Schurf, 
informing him of what had occurred at Witten¬ 
berg during his absence. He saluted us, and 
with a smile, pointing with his finger, he said, 
4 That is Philip Melanchthon, of whom I spoke 
to you.’ Philip then turned towards us, and 
asked us many questions about our journey 
and our intentions, which we answered as well 
as we could. We spent the day with these 
men, to our great joy and benefit.” 

This is the remarkable narrative of the 
interview which the Swiss and the two mer¬ 
chants held with Luther at Jena, at a time, 
when, as Planck in his History of Protestant 
Doctrine says, 44 the ground was burning under 
his feet,” and when his soul was already full 
of the grand conceptions, which he poured forth 
a few days after (March 5), in a remarkable 
letter which he wrote to the Elector from Borna. 


192 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


JOURNEY FROM JENA, THROUGH BORNA, BACK 
TO WITTENBERG. I 5 22 . 

If we assume, what is the most probable 
fact, that Luther set out from the Wartburg 
on March 2, and arrived at Jena on the 3d, 
after having lodged in Erfurt, which also 
agrees with Kessler’s statement, then he left 
Jena early on March 4, and arrived at Borna, 
between Altenberg and Leipzig, on the same 
day, where he also spent the night, and on the 
5th wrote the following letter to the Elector. 
We feel compelled to copy the most important 
sections of this remarkable production, which 
bears such strong testimony to Luther’s cour¬ 
age and magnanimity.* 

“ From feelings of profound submission and 
respect for your Electoral Grace,” he says, “ I 
have consented to be secreted this year; but 
from the most stringent necessities of my con¬ 
science I am compelled to pursue another 
course, and break away from my seclusion. 
The occurrences at Wittenberg have so pain¬ 
fully grieved me, that if I had not been certain 
that we had the pure gospel among us, I 
would have despaired of our cause. Every- 


* De Wette, ii. 145. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 193 

thing that has heretofore annoyed me and 
wounded my feelings in carrying on this 
work, has been comparatively of small ac¬ 
count. It was mere slander and nothing 
more—scarcely worthy of serious notice. I 
would willingly have laid down my life for the 
cause, if it were necessary. The state of 
things at Wittenberg is of such a character, 
that we cannot answer before God nor the 
world if we suffer it to continue; and a great 
part of the responsibility lies upon my neck for 
the gospel’s sake, If this monster should also 
invade Leipzig, I would most certainly also go 
to Leipzig, even if it rained nothing but Duke 
Georges nine days together, and each one was 
nine times a greater savage than he is. I 
write this to inform your Electoral Grace that 
I am going to Wittenberg under a much more 
powerful and more exalted Protector than the 
Elector himself is. Neither is it my intention 
to ask the protection of Your Grace. Yea, I 
could protect Your Grace to a greater extent 
than you could succor me. 

“ Moreover, if I knew that Your Grace 
could and would protect me, I would not come. 
In this affair, no mere man shall or can afford 
17 N 


194 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


counsel or help. God must here act alone, 
without human co-operation. Hence , he who 
in this case believes most firmly , is capable of 
furnishing the best protection ! 

“As now Your Grace desires to know what 
you shall do in this business, for you think 
that you have too little to do, I reply most 
respectfully, that you should do nothing at all, 
for God wishes that the affair be left entirely 
to his control. Since then I will not follow 
Your Grace, so you are not responsible to 
God, if I am captured or murdered. And if I 
am seized or put to death, neither should 
Your Grace nor his Imperial Majesty nor the 
government resist it, but only he who has en¬ 
dowed you with power; otherwise it would be 
rebellion against God. 

“ There is another Person, besides Duke 
George, with whom I deal; he knows me 
very well, and I am not altogether unac¬ 
quainted with him. If Your Grace only be¬ 
lieved, you would see the glory of God. But 
as you do not believe, you have yet seen 
nothing. God be praised for ever and ever. 
Amen.” 

This is the language of a man who speaks 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


195 


from the overflowing- fullness of his heart; who 
feels himself entirely given up to the service of 
God, and hence confesses the truth of the gos¬ 
pel before the most exalted as well as the low¬ 
est in society. 

We now return to the narrative. 

It is very probable that Luther arrived in 
Wittenberg the second time on April 6. On 
the yth of March preceding, the Elector di¬ 
rected Dr. H. Schurf to urge Luther to prepare 
a document explanatory of his reasons for his 
return to Wittenberg. He complied with this 
order on March 12, and declared himself ready 
to make some desired corrections. Some of 
the passages were ofleiTsive to the Elector, and 
Luther did not hesitate to change them. 

In a letter to Spalatin, written at this time, 
he rejects the mass, pictures and saints, but he 
did not wish that at present violent hands 
should be laid upon the doctrine. Towards 
the end of the letter, he says, “ With the word 
all these abuses must be rebuked, but we must 
deal ‘ softly’ and tenderly with the hearts of 
the people, as the host of Israel were treated, 
Gen. xxxiii. 14 (‘ and I will lead on softly ac¬ 
cording . as the children be able to endure’), 



I96 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

that they may willingly and unforced receive 
and comprehend the word, and being gradually 
strengthened in their faith, they may volun¬ 
tarily do their duties.” 

In this as in many other things, Luther pre¬ 
sents a beautiful example of moderation. He 
protests not only against all constraint of con¬ 
science, but against all violent measures in 
promoting the reformation, by which the best 
purposes are often frustrated. The right spirit 
always suggests the right modes of action.* 

The impression which his return made in 
Wittenberg must have been striking, for his 
long beard and knightly costume disguised 
him so completely that he was at first not 
recognized by his friends. 

Upon the happy results of his return, Dr. 
H. Schurf thus expresses himself in a letter of 
March 15, to the Elector: 

“ I humbly inform Your Grace that Dr. Mar¬ 
tin’s return and preaching have excited great 
pleasure and rejoicing among the learned and 
unlearned; for by his sermons and conversation, 
by God’s help, he daily leads us poor misled 
and abused people in the way of the truth. 


*De Wette, ii. 141-50. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. igf 

And I am persuaded that he came to Witten¬ 
berg at this time under the special direction 
of the Almighty.”* 

And it is true; we cannot withhold our 
approbation of Luther; we must give him the 
right. Carlstadt, who was treated by him 
with the most considerate forbearance, was 
ashamed, and the Zwickauer prophets, whom 
Luther tried to convince of the groundlessness 
of their measures with the same spirit of gen¬ 
tleness, sneaked away, and for the present 
calumniated him from a distance. Subse¬ 
quently, however, they annoyed him exces¬ 
sively, for they helped to kindle the fire which, 
in the Peasants’ War, spread a devouring 
flame over Germany. 

JOURNEYS TO LOCHAU, TORGAU, HERZBURG, BEL- 

GERN, BORNA, ALTENBERG, ZWICKAU, BORNA, 
EULENBERG, AND THROUGH TORGAU 
BACK TO WITTENBERG. 1522. 

While Luther edified the people in Witten¬ 
berg by his purely evangelical sermons, em¬ 
ployed all proper means for the restoration of 
quiet, and animated the students by his aca- 

* Seckendorf, 464. Hall. a. Thl. xv. 401. 

17* 



I98 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

demical lectures, he took measures also for 
maintaining- an active correspondence with his 
friends. His letter to Nicolas Gerbellius of 
March 18, 1522, is full of courage in view of 
the dangers with which he saw himself sur¬ 
rounded. “ I comfort myself,” says he, “ be¬ 
cause I know that Christ is the Lord of all 
things, for the Father has put all things under 
his feet, without doubt also the wrath of the 
Emperor and of all the demons, who do not 
belong to the sheep, which the Father has 
made subject to the Son.”* 

He also informs Wenceslaus Link on March 
19 of his return to Wittenberg, censures the 
rude proceedings of Carlstadt and Gabriel 
Didymus, on the other hand highly approves 
of the resolutions of the Augustinian Convent, 
expresses his fearlessness of his enemies, par¬ 
ticularly Duke George, but yet fears that, 
through their senseless conduct, the people 
may be roused to sedition.f 

But that he did not lose sight of the church 
externally, is evident from a letter to the same 
of April 12, in which he says, “ After Easter I 


*De Wette, ii. 153-54. 
f De Wette, ii., 181-82. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 199 

intend to go on a church visitation to the 
towns and villages; this I have promised, so 
that you will scarcely see me for fourteen days 
after Easter.”* As he wrote a letter at Witten¬ 
berg to Spalatin on April I4,f he could not 
have entered upon this journey at an earlier 
date. That about this time he visited Lochau, 
a parish belonging to Pretzsch, is evident from 
documents still extant in that place. 

On April 24, he set out upon his journey to 
Torgau, as appears from a financial reckoning 
of 1522, according to which “ certain persons 
with sixteen horses accompanied Dr. Luther 
to Herzeberg at the expense of the Town 
Council of Torgau,” where business relating to 
the Augustinian monastery claimed his atten¬ 
tion. As early as 1516 he designated himself 
in a letter as “actor causarum Herzbergen- 
sium in Torgau” (agent of the affairs of Herz- 
berg in Torgau), because the monastery stood 
in close relation to Torgau, the nature of 
which is not now apparent. Besides this, we 
find him about this time at Belgern on the 
Elbe, not far from Torgau, although he makes 


* De Wette, ii., 156-7-8. 
f De Wette, ii. 181-2. 



200 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


no allusion to it in his letters, but the fact is 
mentioned in a monument in the church, on 
which is inscribed, “ 1522, March 25, Dr. Luther 
here preached the first evangelical sermon.” 

Probably the 25th of March is exchanged 
for April 25, for in March, Luther was so 
busily engaged in ecclesiastical affairs at Wit¬ 
tenberg that he could not then think of a jour¬ 
ney; in connection with which it may be men¬ 
tioned, that neither in his letters nor in any 
other place, as far as our researches extended, 
could we find any allusion to it. 

Although Luther in Wittenberg silenced 
the Zwickauer fanatics, and compelled them to 
leave the city, yet he had his eye upon them 
constantly, and held it necessary to tear up 
the evil by the very roots. Notwithstanding 
he was under the papal ban and the imperial 
act, yet, confiding in the mighty protection 
of God, he had the courage to trust himself 
at this distance from Wittenberg. 

On April 26, he arrived at Borna for the 
second time, and preached there on the day 
after, which was Easter Sunday, early in the 
morning and again at noon.* 

*Lingke, 128. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


201 


From this place he proceeded to Altenberg, 
and preached there on April 28th. On the 
same day he journeyed to Zwickau. He was 
entertained by the Burgermaster Miihlpfort, 
who, according to the Zwickauer chronicles, 
“ was a gifted, industrious, patriotic, eloquent, 
respected, and celebrated man.” After he had 
rested a whole day, on April 30th, he boldly 
preached twice in the Franciscan or Our Lady’s 
church, in the morning on Faith, and in the 
afternoon on Good Works. The crowd from 
the town and vicinity was so large that the 
number was estimated to be 14,000, all of 
which, of course, the church could not con¬ 
tain. The next day he was persuaded to hold 
another discourse, but on account of the im¬ 
mense assembly, he was compelled to preach 
from a window of the Town Hall. On May 
2d, he preached a fourth sermon in the castle. 
These discourses, delivered in the most ani¬ 
mated style, made a wholesome impression on 
the people. There was also no lack of respect 
and honors, especially on the part of the City 
Council, which on the same day invited him to 
a public dinner in the Town Hall. 

Whilst Luther was at Zwickau, Bishop 


202 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


Adolph, of Merseburg, came to Borna, and 
held, on May 2d, a pompous visitacion in be¬ 
half of popery. This may have been the oc¬ 
casion of Luther going to Borna on the same 
evening in citizen’s dress, which he reached 
early on May 3d, accompanied by the City 
Judge of Zwickau, Conrad Reichenbach, 
and preached on the same day. He felt him¬ 
self constrained to preach again on May 4, for 
even the presence of the bishop could not 
hinder him from boldly proclaiming the pure 
gospel, for which he feared no danger, and 
even if he had been compelled to lay down his 
life as a sacrifice. The reputation which every¬ 
where preceded him occasioned many earnest 
invitations, and the bishop himself did not 
feel strong enough to hinder the popular 
clamor for Luther. 

After the sermon, which was the fourth de¬ 
livered in that place during this year, he went 
in company with the Judge to Eulenberg, 
where Magister Andrew Kauxdorf, a native of 
Torgau, who shortly before was driven away 
by the Cardinal Archbishop of Magdeburg, 
Marquis Albert, on account of the evangelical 
doctrine, was proposed by some persons as 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 203 

preacher. Luther wrote on this event to 
Spalatin on May 5 from the castle of Eulen- 
berg, “ I learn that some Eulenbergers are 
going to work very indolently about calling an 
evangelical preacher, but others propose that 
our Prince should address a written request to 
the Council to grant the desires of these poor 
people in this proper and necessary affair, and 
call either Andrew Kauxdorfer or a certain 
Thomas at Wittenberg.” 

According to the Eulenberg chronicle, this 
man was inducted into his office during this 
year. 

On May 6, Luther arrived again at Witten¬ 
berg by way of Torgau, and on the same day 
he wrote to the Burgermaster and Council of 
Altenberg, concerning certain hindrances which 
the canons at that place created in the settle¬ 
ment of Gabriel Didymus (Zwilling). 

A series of letters shows the deep interest 
felt in the case of this erring brother. Whilst 
others rested after exertion and labor, Luther, 
on the very day of his return from a journey, 
is still at work in behalf of the general cause 
or of individuals, and constantly busy in afford¬ 
ing help or giving counsel to those who ask it. 


204 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

How untiringly active he was is manifest from 
his numerous journeys, and in this respect he 
also exhibits himself as a beautiful example of 
Christian character, in cheerfully forgiving 
those who wounded or insulted him, or who 
had wandered in the ways of error, as was the 
case with this same Gabriel Didymus. 

JOURNEYS TO LICHTENBERG, LEISNIG, WEIMAR, 
ERFURT AND ZERBST. 1522. 

The Order of St. Anthony possessed at that 
time a monastery in Lichtenberg, the Principal 
of which was called Preceptor, and which 
office was then held by Reissenbusch, Doctor 
of Laws and Chancellor of the University of 
Wittenberg. He was the same man who 
absented himself from Lichtenberg when 
Charles von Miltitz and Luther had an inter¬ 
view at that place. At the solicitation of the 
Elector and Dr. Reissenbusch, Luther repaired 
thither to preach on the occasion of the festival 
of the church consecration, which occurred on 
September 8, 1522; for he cheerfully embraced 
every opportunity of promoting the cause of 
the gospel, and of resisting the dark spirit of 
the papacy. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


205 


A letter to Spalatin of September 25 shows 
that Luther in this year also visited Leisnig, in 
which he says, “ I am just setting out for Leis¬ 
nig, for I have been frequently invited and 
urged to visit it.”* 

The occasion of this journey was doubtless 
a meeting held there to consult upon the ad¬ 
ministration of church property and the em¬ 
ployment of evangelical preachers and teachers, 
as we learn from Seckendorf and other authori¬ 
ties. Luther was asked for his advice in this 
case, as in many others of a similar character. 
His co-operation was productive of good re¬ 
sults, for he repeated his visit the next year, 
and after the matter was finally adjusted, he 
wrote a preface to a book published in 1523, 
entitled, “ Rules for the government of the 
secular affairs of the church at Leisnig” 
(‘ Ordnung des Kastens Zu Leisnig’). This is 
the first book of the kind printed in the evan¬ 
gelical church, and it is mentioned by various 
authors.f This arrangement gratified Luther 

* De Wette, ii. 252. 

f Unschuld Nacho. Seckendorf, ii. A. f. 333, T. xviii. L. 
f. 251, T. xix. H. p. 1148. Junius, Thl. i. 350. Burkhardt’s 
Briefe, 54, etc., etc. 

18 




20 6 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

much, so that he regarded it as a pattern, and 
recommended it to other congregations. On 
the 3d or 4th of October he returned to Wit¬ 
tenberg. 

But his journey to Erfurt was more impor¬ 
tant still, as appears from two letters, one of 
which was to John Lange of June 25 (1522), 
and the other to the church at Erfurt. In the 
first he complains of the opponents of the gos¬ 
pel in Erfurt; in the second he instructs the 
congregation on the subject of the veneration 
or service of the Saints, and declares that it is 
not necessary, and yet not altogether to be 
condemned, and that the weak might be in¬ 
dulged therein, but he admonishes against 
forcible innovations.* 

As the spirit of opposition and discord con¬ 
tinued to prevail notwithstanding, he deemed 
it important to go there himself and exert his 
personal influence. In October, he repaired 
thither, accompanied by Melanchthon, Jacob 
Probst,f the former Augustinian Provost at 

*De Wette, ii. 213, 220. 

j-Jacob Probst, otherwise called Spreng or Sperensis, was 
threatened with burning on account of his evangelical ser¬ 
mons. He was arrested twice, but escaped and took refuge 
with Dr. Luther. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 207 

Antwerp, John Agricola, and the Ducal Saxon 
Court-preacher, Wolfgang Stein (Stayn). On 
their journey, they passed through Weimar, 
where he preached, as appears from a letter to 
Spalatin of November 3. “ Of the sermons I 

preached at Weimar and Erfurt,” says he, “ I 
have nothing, and need say nothing, for you 
already know that I taught nothing there but 
faith and charity, except that in Weimar I was 
requested to publish sermons which I once 
preached on The Kingdom of God and Civil 
Government; it will be printed and dedicated 
to Prince John.”* 

This was done in the following year (1523), 
and this sermon was printed and dedicated to 
Prince John (The Constant). 

When he came to Erfurt, he preached there 
on the 21st and 22d of October (Seckendorf). 
The first sermon treats of faith and good 
works; the second of the afflictions and suffer¬ 
ings of Christians. 

From the communications he had previously 
sent to Erfurt, in which he aimed at subduing 
the excited feelings of some opponents, and re¬ 
conciling those preachers who did not harmon- 


* Hall, a. Thl. x. 199. 



208 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


ize in sentiment and action, as well as from the 
sermons he preached there, it is very manifest 
that in his doctrine and in the work of the 
Reformation, he relied exclusively upon the 
power of the Divine Word and upon help from 
on high, whilst he spurned all human power 
and aid. Hence he says, “ I beseech you, my 
dear brethren, guard against all disorder, and 
give no occasion thereto. There are many 
simple people who think that the cause of the 
gospel should be promoted by the sword and 
force, and vainly imagine that personal violence 
should be employed against the priests and 
monks; but they do not know that our contest 
is not against flesh and blood, but against the 
spiritual powers of darkness. Satan is a spirit, 
who has neither flesh nor bones, and hence he 
cannot be harmed with iron or with blows. 
We must turn away from him the hearts of 
men by the word of truth : that is our sword 
and weapon, which no one can resist.” How 
plainly these words refute those who represent 
Luther as a promoter of sedition or disorder 
of any character. 

Of his journey to Zerbst, in this year, we 
know nothing more than that, at the invitation 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


209 


of Prince Wolfgang of Anhalt, he visited this 
place, and that he preached, to the great edifi¬ 
cation and benefit of the people.* 

* Seckendorf, 544, 1283. Junius, Thl. i. 354. 

18* • O 




& 


CHAPTER IV. 

JOURNEYS , INCLUDING THOSE TO TORGAU, 
E TC. 1523-1530. 

JOURNEYS TO SCHWEINITZ, ALTENBERG, WEIMAR, 
ERFURT, TORGAU, LEISNIG AND MAGDEBURG. 


1523 AND I524. 



HILST the great work of the church 


V V reformation constantly engaged the at¬ 
tention and time of Luther, yet he did not lose 
sight of the smaller interests of life. Amid the 
great dangers that daily threatened him, he 
always maintained a cheerful temper, and did 
not deny himself the pleasing enj'oyments of 
domestic life in his own household circle, as 
well as in that of his friends. 

A sponsorship and a wedding called him in 
March of this year (1523) to Schweinitz and 
Altenberg. 

In Schweinitz he was invited by a certain 


( 210 ) 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 21 I 

man named Bernhard, of whom nothing else is 
known, together with Justus Jonas and his 
wife, to become sponsor of his child. In a 
letter of March 8th to Spalatin, he speaks of 
this family festival in the most cheerful style, 
at which also he says they indulged in joyous 
song. 

The wedding alluded to was celebrated at 
Altenberg, to which place Dr. Wenceslaus 
Link, formerly vicar of the Augustinians of 
Saxony, was called as preacher, after the de¬ 
parture of Gabriel Didymus. Link invited 
Luther to his marriage festival, which he thus 
answered: “I, Philip, the Provost, Justus 
Jonas, Dr. Hieronymus Schurf, Pomeranus 
(John Bugenhagen), our Prior (M. Eberhard 
Brisger), and Jacob (Probst), also Joachim 
(Prince of Anhalt), will certainly come, unless 
the Lord hinders us, which we would not 
like.” He also mentions in this letter that 
nine seceding nuns had arrived in Witten¬ 
berg.* 

As there was no hindrance in the way, Lu¬ 
ther journeyed with his company to Altenberg, 


* De Wette, ii. 318. 



212 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


not only to be present at the wedding, but to 
participate in all the usual festivities of the oc¬ 
casion, some of which were very peculiar in 
that day; and on April 14, he preached in St. 
Bartholomew church on the benefits of married 
life. As it was feared that the canons, who 
were much excited about this marriage, would 
create some disturbance, the bridal couple 
were escorted home by some armed citizens. 
On April 16, he returned to Wittenberg. 

That he soon after went to Weimar, of 
which we do not know the occasion, is shown 
by a letter dated May 1 (1523) to John Lange 
in Erfurt, in which his expresses his sincere 
condolence in the death of Lange’s wife. 

Before his return home, he also visited Er¬ 
furt, where he preached. 

As some discord had arisen at Leisnig on 
account of “The Common Treasury,”* Luther 
felt it to be his duty to go to that place again 
in this year, as is shown by two letters which 
he wrote to the Elector Frederick on the nth 

*On this subject (of which we have no clear conception— 
Tr.), Burkhardt gives the fullest information in the letters 
of January 25 and 29, 1529. See Burkhardt, p. 53, 54, 
comp. De Wette, ii. 379-81. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


213 


and 12th of August, in which he says, “I 
have been to Leisnig on account of the dis¬ 
order concerning their ‘ common treasury,’ and 
there ascertained the general condition of 
things. I found that all the articles and ordi¬ 
nances are very good, excepting the one relat¬ 
ing to the property which was heretofore 
applied to spiritual purposes, but much of 
which was devoted to ungodly institutions and 
other abuses, on which account some of the 
Council intend to appeal to your Grace for 
redress.” It is very probable, as M. Sinnhold 
maintains, that this affair was the occasion of 
the journey to Weimar as mentioned above, if 
the affair at Leimbach is not mingled with it, 
which Burkhardt alludes to in several letters. 

It is very plain, that Luther was much con¬ 
cerned that the spiritual property or endow¬ 
ments should be appropriated to their legiti¬ 
mate design, as his preface to these “ Rules 
and Constitution” shows. Among other things, 
he says, “ I have done everything in my 
power to show that when these institutions 
and monasteries shall become vacant, it will 
be necessary to see that the deserted property 
shall not be subject to a scramble, in which 


214 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


everyone may take what he can snatch. I am 
always ready to give you Christian admonition 
and advice that you should not permit some 
stingy and greedy paunches to appropriate this 
spiritual property to themselves.” 

In August of the same year, he wrote to the 
congregation at Leisnig, and was so gratified 
at the disposition of the church property 
agreed upon, that he published the articles of 
that agreement with the preface mentioned 
above.* 

The last tour which he made in this year, 
was that to Schweinitz, the occasion of which 
was the following: Christian II., King of 
Sweden and Denmark, when he escaped from 
his kingdom, in April, 1523, fled to the 
Elector of Saxony, Frederick the Wise, who 
was his uncle. As early as 1520, he requested 
the Elector to send him a Lutheran preacher. 
Magister Martinus was sent, by whose preach¬ 
ing in Copenhagen the Reformation was there 
inaugurated.f The king’s admiration of Lu- 

* De Wette, ii. 382. 

t Junius I., 277-8, 390, 422, 423. Concerning his wife 
Elizabeth, Luther thus writes to John Agricola : “ The most 
excellent Queen Elizabeth is dead, as the King himself in- 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


215 


ther created in him a strong desire to know 
him personally and to hear him preach. This 
induced Luther, accompanied by Melanchthon, 
to go to Schweinitz, and there, in October, he 
preached a sermon in presence of the king, 
which made such a deep impression upon him 
that he declared he would never forget this 
discourse, and would patiently bear any mis¬ 
fortune that might befall him.* * 

Although the king, as long as he remained 
at the castle during his banishment, was 
pleased to hear Luther preach, yet in the hope 
of recovering his throne, he returned to the 
Romish faith, after an interview with the Em¬ 
peror at Innsbruck, in 1530; but he was dis¬ 
appointed, for in 1532 he was taken prisoner, 
and was condemned to incarceration in the 
castle of Sonderburg for life.f 

Passing over the journey that Luther is said 

formed me; but she died full of faith, and received the holy 
sacrament according to the instruction of Christ, and resisted 
every effort made to induce her to return to the papal faith, 
although many eminent persons exerted all their influence 
upon her. Christ also wanted a queen in heaven.” Burk- 
hardt, 66. 

* Menkenii Script. Rer. Germ., T. ii., f. 630. 

^•Burkhardt, 102. Seideman, Luther Briefe, 26. 




2l6 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


to have made, in 1524, to Eisleben and Gotha, 
as their authenticity cannot be established, we 
now turn to that which he made in this year 
to Magdeburg. Here, for some time pre¬ 
viously, the gospel had been preached by Dr. 
Melchior Mintz, Eberhard Wydensee, and 
John Fritzhaus (a Franciscan), and they even 
printed certain theses against popery. 

Upon an agreement between Dr. Mintz and 
other evangelically disposed persons, the Bur- 
germeister, Nicolas Sturm, was requested to 
invite Luther to visit them and preach. 

Accepting this invitation, he went to Magde¬ 
burg by way of Zerbst, for the purpose of aid¬ 
ing the work of reformation already begun. 

He wished to preach in the church of the 
Augustines, but as the immense crowd could 
not be accommodated, he selected St. John’s 
church, in which, on July 3d, he preached an 
edifying sermon. But the multitude of hear¬ 
ers was so great that many who could not 
secure places in the church, raised ladders to 
the windows in order to hear him. The result 
of this discourse was, that many were con¬ 
verted to the evangelical faith.* He remained 


* Seckendorf, 665. Junius, i. 354, seq. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


217 


several days in Magdeburg, and took the op¬ 
portunity of submitting to the Council and 
the leading members of the church his plans 
for a complete reformation. He also success¬ 
fully proposed that Dr. Amsdorf should be 
called to be a minister in that city. 

In the Saxon chronicle, by Dresser, we read, 
p. 519: 

“ In the year 1534, the people of St. Ulrich’s 
church unanimously elected Nicolas Amsdorf 
as their preacher, who was recommended to 
this position by Dr. Luther, and at their order 
and expense they despatched Ulrich Embden 
with a petition to the Elector of Saxony to re¬ 
lease Nicolas Amsdorf from his engagement as 
Professor of Theology at the University of 
Wittenberg, and when the said Ulrich Emb¬ 
den discharged this duty and secured the re¬ 
lease of the said Amsdorf, they accepted and 
established him as their pastor.” 

JOURNEYS TO WEIMAR AND JENA. I 5 24. 

Carlstadt gave occasion to these journeys, 
who could not conceal his displeasure that the 
changes made in the mode of the church ser¬ 
vice at Wittenberg were not according to his 
wishes. He believed that he could elsewhere 


218 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


find a soil better adapted to sowing the seed 
of his spirit of innovation. 

Orlamunde, in the Duchy of Meiningen, 
was the place selected by him for his boister¬ 
ous activity. This place was not unknown to 
him, for as early as 1515, on his return from 
Rome, he spent some time there, until the 
Elector, Frederick the Wise, by an express or¬ 
der called him back to Wittenberg.* But he 
did not allow that to prevent him from direct¬ 
ing his steps to Orlamunde in this year, for 
he, as Archdeacon at Wittenberg, thought he 
had a claim on the parish of that place, on ac¬ 
count of some income due him. Into an 
agreement he made in 1515 with the church, 
he had inserted a clause, that the pastorate at 
Eutersdorf belonged to him as a feudal ten¬ 
ure, by virtue of being the officiating and titled 
minister at Orlamunde. Besides this, many 
of the new prophets, on whose side he stood, 
were found in that vicinity. When he came 
among them, he met with a hearty reception. 
The acting vicar, Conrad Glitsch, or Gluck, 
who was charged with dishonesty, was deposed 
by these men, and Carlstadt was installed as 


*Chr. Heinr. Zoeberus, in Hist. Eccl. Orlamunde, 160. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


219 


their pastor, which, after a memorial to the 
elector and to the chapter at Wittenberg, they 
believed they had the fullest right to do. But 
the people of Orlamunde received from the 
elector a written rebuke, and were reminded of 
their duties to the University and the clergy 
of Wittenberg; while the latter in a letter of 
May 28th (1524), demanded the Council at 
Orlamunde to dismiss him from his office, and 
insist upon his return to Wittenberg.* 

But as Carlstadt disregarded this notice, but 
rather continued his iconoclasm and fanatical 
proceedings, the elector felt it necessary to 
commission Dr. Luther to resist this scandal 
by his personal presence. 

Luther, obeying this command, left Witten¬ 
berg in company with Prior Brisger, and di¬ 
rected his course first to Weimar, where, on 
August 14th, he wrote to the Council and 
congregation at Muhlhausen, in Saxony, in 
which he warns them against Thomas Munzer, 
who wished to ingratiate himself with them. 
A similar letter he directed on August 21st, to 
the Elector Frederick the Wise and Duke 
John (the Constant), with the admonition to 


* Seckendorf, 624. 



220 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


the princes to put an end to this seditious 
spirit by the exercise of the power given them 
of God, otherwise they would not be excusable 
before God or man. 

This spirit of sedition had already seized the 
peasantry in many sections of Germany, and 
threatened also to invade Saxony; for Thomas 
Munzer was in Muhlhausen, and had already 
begun the work of revolution. 

The condition of things was gloomy, for 
Duke John Frederick, in a letter to Luther of 
June 24th, thought that the best that could be 
done was, that Luther should go through 
Thuringia and dismiss the suspected ministers. 
There is no doubt that he also had his eye 
upon the uneasy spirit among the people, 
which was beginning to show itself, without 
wishing distinctly to express his apprehensions. 
At Weimar, the Ducal court preacher, M. 
Wolfgang Stein, was appointed to accompany 
Luther as a support; and on August 21st, they 
went to Jena, where Carlstadt was then carry¬ 
ing on his disorderly proceedings. Mathesius 
says of this in his fifth sermon: “ Dr. Luther, 
with Wolfgang, court preacher at Weimar, 
was sent to Jena by order of the prince.” 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


221 


Luther at this time also stopped at “ The 
Black Bear/’ and preached August 22d, 
against Sedition and Iconoclasm. Carlstadt, 
who felt insulted by it, repaired to Luther at 
the inn. Here he engaged with Luther in a 
violent controversy, which has been reported 
by M. Martin Reinhard, at that time Preacher, 
later Superintendent, at Jena. Luther rejected 
this report as partial, for falsehood and truth 
were mixed up in it. 

As Carlstadt expressed himself as undecided 
and indistinct upon his own doctrine, Luther 
prevailed upon him to present his opinion in 
writing. At this interview between Carlstadt 
and Luther, there were present besides the 
court preacher, M. Stein and M. Brisger, An¬ 
drew Brenning, Burgermeister and City Sec¬ 
retary of Jena, and the M. Martin Reinhard 
above mentioned, who also deserves to be 
mentioned as the first Superintendent at Jena. 
There was also present Dr. Gerhard Wester- 
burg, an adherent of Carlstadt, who subse¬ 
quently, with him, was compelled to leave the 
country. 

Without having accomplished his object, or 
bringing about an understanding, Luther left 


222 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

Jena for Kahla. He had good reason for 
tarrying here, for the pastor also adhered to 
Carlstadt. To bring him back to the right 
path and to counteract his injurious influence 
upon the congregation, he resolved to preach. 
When he ascended the pulpit, he found lying 
before him the fragments'of a cross; but he 
did not suffer himself to be embarrassed 
thereby, but collected the pieces together, and 
preached an animated sermon on the subject 
of Preserving Faith and a Good Conscience, 
without even alluding to the affair of the 
broken cross.* Thus, the man who could be 
flame and fire, could also on proper occasions 
practice moderation. 

He did not tarry longer than was necessary, 
and left the place ; but instead of taking the 
direct road to Orlamunde, he proceeded to 
Neustadt, on the Orla, where he remained over 
night, and preached on the next day, August 
24th. According to Reinhard’s narrative, the 
Court Preacher, Stein, informed the Town 
Council of Orlamunde of Luther’s presence 
on August 22d, whereupon the Town Secre¬ 
tary of Orlamunde proceeded to Jena to de- 


* Mathesius, Pred. v., 43. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


223 


liver to him a communication from the Coun¬ 
cil. As Luther had already left, he followed 
him to Kahla, where Luther thus answered 
him: 

“Tell the gentlemen at Orlamunde that I 
shall be with them personally, and give them 
an oral reply.” 

Although he was expected earlier, he went 
out of the usual way, and went to Neustadt. 
After he had preached there, on the same day, 
he betook himself to Orlamunde. 

Immediately upon his arrival, he had an 
interview with the Council and the Church on 
the very unbecoming letter which they had 
sent him ; but to his profound grief, he ascer¬ 
tained that they were infected with the spirit of 
Miinzer and Carlstadt, and they even treated 
him discourteously in the presence of Carlstadt. 
Hence it was, that he would not consent to 
the wishes of some that he should preach, but 
left them; and he barely escaped personal vio¬ 
lence. He thus expresses himself upon his 
stay at Orlamunde in a letter to Strassburg:* 
“ When I came to Orlamunde , 4 1 soon discov¬ 
ered what sort of seed Carlstadt had sown 


Seckendorf, 627. Junius, i. 449. 



224 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


there, so that I was glad when some of them gave 
me this blessing, ‘ Clear out in the name of a 
thousand devils, and may you break your 
neck before you get away from the city!’” 

The result of a report on this affair to the 
Court, was a mandate on September 17, 1524, 
that Carlstadt should leave the country. This 
order was renewed by Duke John on October 
20.* The Superintendent, Martin Reinhard, 
at Jena, was also deposed, because he had 
written both communications, in which he 
leaned more decidedly towards Carlstadt than 
to Luther, and that he had misrepresented the 
interview between these two men.f 

Carlstadt at first went to Strassburg and 
thence to Basel, where he openly published his 
doctrines in print. But the Council of Basel 
imprisoned the booksellers who had published 
his writings; they were also prohibited at 
Zurich, although Zwingli and CEcolampadius 
did not reject his opinions on the Holy Sup¬ 
per, but rather tried to apologize for him, by 

* De Wette, ii. 556. 

f One of them was entitled The Interview between Carl¬ 
stadt and Luther at Jena; the other, The Affair between 
Luther and the Town Council at Orlamunde, 1524. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


225 


declaring that Carlstadt had only used inap¬ 
propriate words, and fundamentally could be 
reconciled with their doctrine. 

With disappointed hopes, he left Orlamunde, 
and returned to Wittenberg by way of Weimar, 
which he may have reached at the end of Au¬ 
gust; for at the beginning of September he 
dates a letter at Wittenberg to an unknown 
correspondent, who was probably the Court- 
preacher Stein.* 

JOURNEYS TO PRETZSCH, KEMBERG AND 
TORGAU. I524-I525. 

In December, 1524, Luther, accompanied by 
Nicolas Amsdorf, Justus Jonas and Melanch- 
thon went to Pretzsch, to be present at a wed¬ 
ding at the castle. He then officiated at the 
marriage of Hans von Loser and Ursula von 
Portzig, which he mentions in his Table Talk. 

From the church records of Kemberg, it 
appears that in this year he also visited that 
place, but the occasion is not known. It may 
be presumed that it was only a friendly visit, 
which he made for the purpose of relaxation 
from his severe and engrossing labors. 


* De Wette, ii 549. 


P 



226 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


A special occasion led him to Torgau at the 
beginning of this year. About this time, a 
Polish physician named Franciscus came to 
Wittenberg, who sought an introduction to 
Luther through Melanchthon. When Luther 
was returning home from Melanchthon’s one 
evening, it occurred to him that this was the 
same man against whom he was warned by his 
Breslau friends, and who, bribed by the Polish 
bishops, had no other design in view than to 
poison him. To escape from this snare, he de¬ 
termined to go to Torgau the next day. The 
Polish doctor was really going to visit him on 
the same day, but did not see him, as he had 
already left the place. 

When Luther learned this on his return 
he revealed to Melanchthon, as well as to a 
civil officer in Wittenberg, his grounds of sus¬ 
picion, upon which the Pole was arrested, as 
appears from a letter of Jan. 15 to Amsdorf.* 
But as no confession could be got from him, 
Luther, notwithstanding his conviction of his 
guilt, would not prosecute the case farther, but 
used his influence to have the man liberated. 

Scarcely has this man of God escaped out 


* De Wette, ii. 616. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


227 

of peril than it is forgotten. Never looking 
backward, nor to the right or left, he had his 
eye constantly fixed upon his high purpose, 
strengthened and supported by the conscious¬ 
ness that he was doing and enduring all for 
the glory of God and the furtherance of his 
kingdom. In the midst of his sorrow, which 
Carlstadt and his followers had prepared for 
him, it must have been a source of holy joy 
that even that man, after having uttered the 
most abominable calumnies and abuse against 
Luther from Strassburg and Basel, returned to 
a better course, and in a letter of February 18, 
1525, assures him of peaceful sentiments and 
personal respect, and begs his good offices in 
securing protection for him.* 

But fresh storms were soon to arise which 
distressed his soul, which we shall consider in 
the next chapter, and which will refute the 
monstrous calumny against Luther by his ene¬ 
mies for several generations, that he aided and 
abetted the horrible war waged by the Peasants 
against the Government. 


* De Wette, ii. 628. 



228 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


JOURNEYS OCCASIONED BY THE PEASANTS* WAR; 

TO BITTERFELD, SEEBURG, EISLEBEN, STOL- 
BERG, NORDHAUSEN, ERFURT, WEIMAR, 
ORLAMUNDE, KAHLA AND JENA. 

1525 . 

Surrounded by numerous dangers, and dis¬ 
tressed at Carlstadt’s disorderly proceedings, 
which he alludes to with expressions of deep¬ 
est regret in several letters, the insurrection of 
the peasants now imparted additional grief to 
his already unhappy mind. He expressed his 
horror of this Peasant War in several ad¬ 
dresses directed to those infatuated people ; he 
refuted the twelve theses which they set forth, 
and admonished the princes to repel force with 
force. 

It displays a lamentable ignorance of the 
history of those times when Luther is repre¬ 
sented as an abettor of this revolt, when the 
fact is, as this account of his journey suffi¬ 
ciently shows, that he always exhorted to 
quiet and submission, and never encouraged 
ecclesiastical or political opposition to the 
government. Of his numerous expressions in 
relation to this matter which we have, we will 
here quote only one: 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 229 

“ Revolt against others is useless, and never 
brings about the improvement which is aimed 
at. It is unreasonable, and its evil results usu¬ 
ally fall more upon the innocent than the 
guilty. No revolt is ever right, however 
righteous the cause may be which it aims to 
accomplish; more evil always ensues than 
good, by which the proverb is confirmed, ‘out 
of wrong comes that which is worse.’ For this 
reason government and the sword have been 
instituted; to punish the evil and to protect 
the good, so that revolt may be prevented, as 
St. Paul says, Rom. xiii. 4 and I Pet. ii. 13, 14 
(Malch. x. 413).” 

Guided by such thoughts, he concluded to 
go and resist the abomination by his personal 
presence, to which the following gave occasion: 

Thomas Miinzer, who was born at Stolberg, 
and who, on account of his insurrectionary 
proceedings, had been dismissed from Zwickau 
as early as April 16, 1521, went to Altstedt in 
Thuringia, and secured the pastoral charge of 
the place, and where he married. But here he 
did not cease to instigate the people to revolt, 
and to circulate his opinions by published 
writings. 


20 


230 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


When the Burgermeister of Altstedt, John 
Zeiss, came to Luther in 1523, the latter 
warned Zeiss against the seditious spirit of 
Munzer, and authorized him to secure an 
interview between him and' Miinzef on the 
subject of his doctrines. It resulted in no¬ 
thing ; Munzer only grew more factious, and 
even tumultuous demonstrations were made. 
He was accordingly summoned to Weimar on 
August 1, 1524, to answer for his conduct. 
The Elector Frederick (The Wise) suggested 
to his brother John (The Constant), the ex¬ 
pediency of ordering the Burgermeister of 
Alstedt to expel Munzer from the place. Be¬ 
fore the order had been executed, Munzer left 
Alstedt, and betook himself to Miihlhausen in 
Saxony. As early as August 14 (1524), Lu¬ 
ther sent a letter to the people of Miihlhausen, 
and on August 21, one to the Elector of 
Saxony, imploring them to suppress this revo¬ 
lutionary spirit in time, before it became too 
late. Notwithstanding all this, Munzer, against 
the will of the Council, was elected pastor by 
the seditious people, and a violent outbreak 
among them was the result. Munzer used all 
his power to win the people of Mansfeld to his 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER 23 I 

side, to whom he sent a special written com¬ 
munication. 

The two Counts of Mansfeld, Albert VIII. 
and Gebhard II., who were adherents of the 
Lutheran fhith, begged Luther to subdue this 
excited multitude by his personal presence 
and his sermons. Agreeably to this request, 
he set out upon this journey on Easter Sun¬ 
day, April 16, 1525, after his sermon. On the 
same day he reached Bitterfeld, and on the 
following day arrived at Seeburg, which was a 
castle a few miles from Eisleben, and where he 
preached; “ so that,” as Eusebius Christian 
says, p. 239 in the History of the Earldom of 
Mansfeld, “ the miners during that Peasant 
uproar might be brought to some degree of 
reason.” Besides this, there was church busi¬ 
ness to be transacted, at least this was true as 
far as Eisleben was concerned, for Luther him¬ 
self says, “ I am going to Eisleben, for I have 
been summoned thither by Count Albert, to 
institute a Christian school.” 

After a short stay at Seeburg, he repaired to 
Eisleben, whence, after he had transacted the 
business, he departed for Stolberg on April 
20. Here he stopped at the house of his 


232 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


brother-in-law, William Keipenstein,* who 
was receiver of the rents in the household of 
Count Stolberg. On the Friday after Easter, 
April 21, he preached there in the principal 
church. From here he turned tow^ds Nord- 
hausen, Erfurt, Weimar, Orlamunde and Jena, 
where he preached with a view towards quell¬ 
ing the disturbances. 

After he had returned to Eisleben, on May 
i, 1525, he proceeded to Waldhausen, whither 
he was conveyed by Baron von Asseburg. 
On the day of his arrival, he preached on 
Matt. vii. 15 at the market village of Wald¬ 
hausen, situated a short distance from the 
castle, because the chapel in the castle was 
dark and half way under ground. 

From this place he again repaired to Nord- 
hausen, Weimar and Seeburg. Here he wrote 
a letter on May 4 to the Chancellor at Mans- 
feld, Dr. John Riehel, on the subject of the 
Peasants’ revolt. 

Here he received intelligence of the death 

* Besides his youngest sister Dorothea, who was married 
to an officer of the government at Niederrossla named Paul 
Mackernot, Luther had several others, whose names are not 
known, for he always speaks of them in general. Ricteri 
Genealg. Luther, p. 25. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


233 


of Frederick the Wise (May 5, 1525), which 
affected him so deeply, that on the same day 
he set out for Wittenberg, which he reached 
in safety on May 6, although on this journey 
he was exposed to perils of his life, to which 
he alludes in his “ Admonition to the Ger¬ 
mans” in these words: 

“ If an insurrection should ensue, my all 
powerful God and Lord Jesus Christ can 
rescue me, as He did rescue me in the last 
revolt (1525), for on more than one occasion 
was I in peril of life and limb.” Bugenhagen 
also says, “ Dr. Martin, when he preached to 
the peasants, was twice exposed to attempts 
upon his life.” His doctrine of Christian 
liberty was misunderstood. These simple 
people interpreted it as liberty from taxes and 
imposts; but this was not his meaning, nor was 
it his fault that it was thus prevented, for the 
best things may be apprehended and abused. 

Many expressions in his writings, as well as 
his personal exertions by word and deed in his 
various journeys, show distinctly how severely 
he opposed this revolutionary spirit on eccle¬ 
siastical as well as political grounds. 

In one place, he thus expresses himself 
20* 


234 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

upon the disgraceful proceedings of those 
times: 

“ No one can maintain that our Peasants 
have a righteous cause to contend for, but 
they are heaping dreadfully heavy sins upon 
themselves, and are awaking God’s terrible 
wrath. They violate their oaths of fidelity, 
homage, and obligations which they have 
taken to the government. They have fallen 
into disobedience, and wickedly resist the 
authority which God has ordained; they 
avenge their own fancied wrongs, and grasp 
the sword with unpatriotic malice and vio¬ 
lence, whereas God would have the civil 
authority honored and feared, even if it were 
heathenish and unjust, which Christ himself 
honored in its representative Pilate, although 
he was his unrighteous judge and murderer. 
Woe, woe to you, accursed prophets, who are 
leading the poor, simple people to the destruc¬ 
tion of their souls, and perhaps also the loss 
of their lives and property.” (Walch. 140.) 

On his return to Wittenberg he resumed his 
usual labor, disregarding what had passed, and 
again became an essential help to those of 
every condition who sought his advice. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


235 


In such a time, when the minds of men 
were excited, every opportunity was seized to 
give expression to this feeling. 

This was also the case in Erfurt, where the 
citizens fomented an insurrection against the 
Council. The latter had made a written and 
oral proposition to submit their demands to 
the arbitration of Luther and Melanchthon. 
The Council on May 10, 1525, sent a commu¬ 
nication to each of them of the following im¬ 
port : “ It is our friendly and most earnest 
request that your reverence would come to us 
here at Erfurt as soon as possible; that your 
counsel may conduce to the promotion of 
Christian love and the maintenance of the 
divine Word, peace and harmony.” Luther 
informed Spalatin of this on May 16. 

“The Council of Erfurt has invited Philip 
and myself to go and put things to rights > 
what they are, I do not precisely know.” 
Melanchthon also mentions it in a letter to 
Camerarius a little more distinctly; “ to regu¬ 
late the affairs of the city.” 

Whether they entered upon this journey 
and accepted the invitation of the Council is 
probable, but yet it is not certain, as the 
authorities are silent upon the subject. 


236 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

For Luther himself, this year was a very 
eventful one, for in it he entered upon the holy 
state of matrimony. We have a series of 
letters to John Riehel, his brother-in-law, John 
Thur, Caspar Muller, Spalatin, Michael Stiefel, 
Wenceslaus, Link, Marshal John von Dolzig, 
inviting them to his wedding, and he begging 
for presents of game. 

JOURNEYS TO TORGAU, SEGREHNA AND 
ALTENBERG. I 5 26 AND I 5 27. 

The j*ourneys taken in the interests of friend¬ 
ship and of family also have an importance in 
the history of a great man, such as Luther 
was; for they give us a view of his sympathetic 
and benevolent heart, which must exert such a 
wholesome and cheering influence upon others. 

The more we regret that a misunderstanding 
arose between him and Gabriel Didymus, on 
account of his violent conduct, during which 
he declared his adhesion to Carlstadt, the 
more does it do our hearts good, when we ob¬ 
serve a reconciliation, and both extending to 
each other a brother’s hand. Didymus was at 
this time Superior Pastor and Superintendent 
at Torgau, and Luther was invited by him to 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 237 

become the godfather of his son, probably the 
oldest, Gabriel. 

Luther cheerfully accepted this invitation, 
and repaired to Torgau with Justus Jonas and 
Melanchthon in fulfillment of this sacred duty. 
These family events he loved to utilize in 
furthering the cause of the pure gospel. He 
also preached here on January 21, 1526, in St. 
Mary’s church. 

Soon after, he went to Segrehna, a hamlet 
belonging to the parish of Kemberg, to be 
present at the baptism of a child, of which his 
wife became godmother. At this place Carl- 
stadt .kept himself, who, the year before, was 
compelled to fly from Rotenburg on account 
of the revolt that had arisen at that place. 
He asked for a safe conduct from the Elector 
Frederick for the purpose of holding a collo¬ 
quy with Luther, but received a negative 
reply. Luther, who was kind enough to over¬ 
look the numerous insults and provocations he 
had received from Carlstadt, absolutely inter¬ 
ceded in his behalf with the Elector John to 
secure his return to Saxony; he kept him con¬ 
cealed in his own house until the Electoral 
permission was obtained. In consequence of 


238 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

this, Carlstadt took up his residence in Se- 
grehna. To show his gratitude to Luther, he 
invited his wife to be godmother, on which occa¬ 
sion he accompanied her to that place. On the 
following day (beginning of February), he wrote: 

“Yesterday we baptized an infant son of 
Carlstadt, or rather unbaptized the baptism.* 
The godparents are Jonas, Philip and my 
Kaethe. I was there as a guest.” It occurred 
at Segrehna, where Carlstadt lives, and from 
which he went to Bragwitz. He had there 
bought a farm, but was not successful in his 
agricultural pursuits, and he was compelled to 
sell it. He begged Luther to intercede with 
the Elector, to be allowed to live in Kemberg. 

To the grounds given in Burkhardt’s letter, 
must also be added the wickedness of the 
peasants, which prevented him from staying in 
the villages, as he himself says in his letter to 
the Elector. Thus the noble Luther in the 
fulness of love and forgiveness protected and 
cherished the man who had occasioned him 
many unhappy hours, and calls to us, “ Go and 
do likewise.” 

* Probably Carlsladt’s wife had given the child the name 
of Andrew without having it baptized. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 239 

According to Burkhardt’s account, Luther 
attained his object.* 

After this digression, we accompany Luther 
to Altenburg, to which place he went for the 
purpose of adjusting some affairs relating to 
papal ceremonies. 

He had made several propositions to the 
Elector concerning the best method of abolish¬ 
ing these,f and says at the end of his letter of 
February 9: 

“ They shall not say that they are com¬ 
pelled to believe our doctrines; that is not our 
design; but we only forbid their public scandal 
which they themselves cannot justify, and they 
must confess that there is no scriptural 
ground for it, and yet they continue shame¬ 
lessly to ruin other souls, to injure the country 
and the people, and bring the gospel to dis¬ 
grace and ignominy. Let them be protected 
in their property, and enjoy the benefits of citi¬ 
zenship, and let them in their chambers wor¬ 
ship and serve whom they please, and as many 
gods as they like; but publicly theyshall not 

*Burkhardt, 112. This intercession is printed in De 
Wette, iii. 135. See also Burkhardt, 114-15. 
f De Wette, iii. 88. 



240 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

blaspheme the true God, and mislead the peo¬ 
ple, unless they prove from the Scriptures that 
they have right and justice on their side.” 

Soon after his arrival in Wittenberg he 
went to Torgau. The letter of the Elector 
John to Luther gives the occasion of this visit, 
and as it was printed in Burkhardt 107, for the 
first time from the original, we will here intro¬ 
duce the chief contents. 

“ We inform you that the illustrious prince, 
our dear brother-in-law and cousin Duke 
Henry of Saxony, yesterday arrived at this 
place. He has a strong inclination to see you 
and hear you preach. As no one knows what 
God the Almighty may probably bring out of 
such an event, we desire that you should start 
from Wittenberg two hours before day, and re¬ 
pair hither, and that so soon as you arrive you 
will inform us of it. Hereby you will do us a 
favor which we will graciously acknowledge. 
Torgau, April 26, 1526.” 

Luther must have felt the more inclined to 
obey this summons, because about this time 
the Electoral Court was assembled at Torgau, 
which received special importance from the 
fact that on May 4, 1526, the first treaty of al- 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 24 1 

liance with the Landgrave Philip of Hesse was 
signed. 

If, during the year 1526, Luther had en¬ 
dured much anxiety and performed much 
labor in building up the church by writing and 
preaching, the year 1527 brought him numer¬ 
ous trials and severe attacks of sickness, of 
which he thus speaks in a letter to Justus 
Jonas: ^ 

“ My dear Jonas, do not cease to pray for 
me and to agonize with me that Christ may 
not depart from me in my troubles. I some¬ 
times feel a little relief, but at other times they 
are on that account more severe. God help 
me that my faith may not fail, and that they 
may not be visitations of wrath, but fatherly 
chastisements.” 

Among other things, he also complains that 
the professors and students had nearly all de¬ 
serted Wittenberg on account of the plague 
which raged there in 1526, and that Bugen- 
hagen and his deacons had not yet returned, 
while he alone patiently endured the terrible 
scourge. Here was a beautiful testimony of 
his strong confidence in God, which always 
21 Q 


242 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


supported him in all troubles and trials, and 
never suffered him to despair. 

Superadded to these temptations of the 
spirit and complaints of the body, there arose 
about this time another affliction. Many 
noblemen misused the property of the Elector, 
and sought to enrich themselves by the unlaw¬ 
ful use of the church funds. He repaired in 
person to the Elector to complain of this injust¬ 
ice, and received for answer, that “ he would 
adopt such measures and isSue such orders 
that everything should be properly and justly 
arranged.”* This was one reason that took 
him to Torgau during this year (1527). But 
another occasion arose which called him to 
Torgau a second time. 

Although, during the prevalence of the 
plague in Wittenberg, he lived privately, yet, 
yielding to a special invitation of the Elector, 
he attended the solemnities observed upon the 
occasion of the entrance of the Electoral 
prince John Frederick, with his young wife 
Sybilla, daughter of the Duke John of Cleve. 
This is a renewed evidence of the high esteem 
in which his Sovereign held the man who had 


* Seckendorf, T. xxi. 1019. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 243 

been called by Providence to such a distin¬ 
guished and responsible position. 

On this occasion, Luther had a special 
interview with Duke Henry of Mecklenburg 
and Duke Ernst of Liineburg on the prev¬ 
alent intemperance of those times, of which 
he subsequently thus speaks in his Table 
Talk: 

“ At the Electoral wedding festivities at 
Torgau, they pledged each other in full cups, 
and that they called a good drink.” 

During the same year, he was compelled to 
go to Torgau the third time in consequence of 
a controversy between John Agricola of Eisle- 
ben and Melanchthon, growing out of some 
instructions to parish visitors published by 
the latter. 

After the Elector had expressed his will 
concerning the controversy, Melanchthon and 
Agricola had a disputation upon the question 
whether we should commence with repentance 
and contrition or with faith ? As they differed 
in opinion, Luther stepped in as arbiter, and 
decided, “ It would be better to use the word 
‘ faith’ in a general sense as justifying , but in 
reference to contrition as consoling faith.” By 


244 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

this decision, the dispute was settled and peace 
restored.* 

After Luther, on November 28, had written, 
in the house of Spalatin/f a letter to John 
Brentius, Pastor at Halle, he returned to Wit¬ 
tenberg with his traveling companions. 

The plague in Wittenberg did not cease in 
this year, but Luther did not allow it to inter¬ 
fere with his labors, but continued steadfast at 
his post, in reliance upon the aid of Him who 
can extend protection. How painfully con¬ 
cerned about him his sovereign was, appears 
from a letter of August 10, to repair immedi¬ 
ately with his wife and child to Jena, whither 
some of the professors of the University had 
already fled.! But Luther knew how neces¬ 
sary his presence was in such a season of dis¬ 
tress, and hence he boldly encountered every 
danger, and herein presents a beautiful ex¬ 
ample for the servants of the Word, to be near 
the sick and distressed with the consolations 
of the gospel, even if it should be accompanied 
with sacrifices and dangers. 


* Seckendorf, T. xvii. H. p. 2707. Junius, ii. 158. 
f Spalatin had his own house in Torgau. Lingke, 164. 
J Burkhardt, 119. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


245 


JOURNEYS TO TORGAU, BORNA, ALTENBERG, 
WEIMAR, TORGAU, LOCHAU AND 
KEMBERG. 15 28. 

Visitation Tours. 

The visitations which were begun in the 
preceding year, and continued in 1528, deserve 
special mention. This function of visitation 
had received public sanction by the publication 
of the instruction to visitors, which was equiv¬ 
alent to a decree. The Elector had referred 
these instructions or rules, prepared by Me- 
lanchthon, to Luther for inspection, upon 
which he expressed his opinion in January of 
this year, and some of his suggestions were 
adopted.* 

This function, as we have seen above, was 
begun as far back as 1516, and it was renewed 
or at least agitated again in 1529, when Duke 
John Frederick ordered Luther to pass through 
Thuringia and to dismiss the incompetent min¬ 
isters ;f but it was abandoned amid numerous 
turbulent scenes and opposition, until it was 
revived in 1527, particularly in 1528, and the 

* De Wette, iii. 258. 
f Burkhardt, 72. 

21* 



246 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

journeys of Luther during this year were 
undertaken specially in the discharge of visi¬ 
tation duties. 

He was partly adviser and partly active 
participant. 

As soon as the Elector determined upon the 
revival of the visitation system, he summoned 
him to his Court on various occasions, to hear 
his advice on this important subject. 

In January, 1528, he was called to Torgau 
on this business, where on the 27th, he wrote to 
Nicolas Hausman concerning a betrothal and 
the anticipated marriage.* After he had dis¬ 
charged his duty, he returned to Wittenberg 
by way of Pretzsch. 

His judgment on the Rules of Visitation, 
alluded to above, and which is now preserved 
in the Archives of Weimar, although without 
a signature,*)* was doubtless written after his 
return from Torgau, for that he had received 
a special order to state his opinion, appears 
from a letter which he wrote to Spalatin on 
January 31, after his return from Torgau, in 


* De Wette, iii. 264. 
f De Wette, iii. 258. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


247 


which he says in the beginning,* “We could 
not this time despatch the messenger so soon; 
for we have not returned from Torgau empty, 
etc. Firstly, as you ask about clerical masses, 
etc., you must know that no pastor can hold 
mass with a good conscience, where there are 
no communicants. There is no question 
about this any more: either no mass or com¬ 
municants. 

In Altenberg the magistrate complained 
that the town was still burdened with so many 
priests, monks and nuns, and especially that 
the Guardian of the Franciscans is a coarse 
and scandalous man, who prowls about in the 
village, trying to strengthen the people in 
the old superstition, and appeals to the Bishop 
of Naumburg for his authority. 

At the particular order of the Elector, 
Luther departed from Wittenberg on March 
17, 1528, accompanied by Bugenhagen and 
Melanchthon, and the next day they arrived 
at Borna, after having traveled over very bad 
roads and in unfavorable weather. The day 
following, they came to Altenburg, transacted 
the business growing out of the complaints 


* De Wette, iii. 272. 



248 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


concerning the superfluity of priests, monks 
and nuns, and sent for a certain Herr von 
Einsiedel, who shortly before had uttered 
some opinions concerning Duke George’s re¬ 
lations to religious affairs, with whom they 
desired to have an interview. Luther had the 
satisfaction of arranging the affair of the 
Franciscans, and to give to Von Einsiedel the 
necessary explanations and directions. Luther, 
after having successfully performed the duty 
of peacemaker, was discharged by the Elector, 
who at that time was holding a diet in Alten- 
burg. He probably returned to Wittenberg 
by way of Borna, where Magister George 
Mohr was pastor since 1524. According to 
an authentic document, Luther married him 
on this occasion to a citizen’s daughter. 

It is certain, however, that he took Torgau 
in his way on his return, as is shown by a 
letter written on March 23 to Nicolas Haus- 
man* He mentions in it the affair with P. 
Lindenauer, pastor in Zwickau, whom he re¬ 
minded in a letter of February 10, of his duty 
to observe moderation and prudence in the 
exercise of his ministry, to promote love and 


* De Wette, iii. 295. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 249 

concord and not to foment strife and dis¬ 
sension.* 

He reached Wittenberg from Torgau at the 
end of March, for we find in De Wette, iii. 297, 
a letter to Madam Felicia von Selmenitz, dated 
April 1. 

Towards the end of April, the Elector went 
to Weimar, where he occasionally held his 
court, and Luther had the distinguished 
honor of being invited to accompany him.f 
From this place Luther, on May 1, wrote to 
Justus Menius at Eisenach, in which he com¬ 
plains that no person from Erfurt came to see 
him at Weimar. “ Erfurt,” he says, “ is Erfurt, 
Erfurt will continue to be Erfurt, Erfurt was 
Erfurt: for what else shall I think or say of 
them ?”J 

Doubtless many sorrowful experiences 
crowded upon his memory, which he here en¬ 
dured at various times. He also refers to this 
tour later, in a letter to the Elector (September 
3), in which he recommends Magister Michael 

* De Wette, iii. 295. 

f De Wette, iii. 281. 

J De Wette iii. 308. Erfordia est Erfordia, Erfordia erit 
Erfordia, Erfordia fuit Erfordia; quid eorum aliud vel cog- 
item vel dicem? 



250 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


Stiefel to the pastorate in Lochau ; when he 
says, “ I presume that the name of Michael 
Stiefel is known to your Electoral Grace, who 
was with us on the journey to Weimar, and to 
whom Your Grace made a present of five 
guilders.” * 

The letter is written in a very simple and 
familiar style, as if a friend was speaking to 
friend, which gave no offence to a prince like 
John ; he knew Luther well and he needed a 
Luther, whose genial spirit gave him more 
gratification than the often meaningless and 
dead forms of etiquette. 

Seckendorf gives us the necessary explana¬ 
tions of the occasion of this tour, who ob¬ 
serves that in the nunneries of Weimar and 
Hensdorf, there were many who would not 
abandon the old superstitions, although they 
had evangelical preachers several years, so 
that it became Luther’s duty to exert his per¬ 
sonal influence in this affair. As usual, he 
not only treated them with patient considera¬ 
tion, but also took special pains to secure for 
them the necessary support. 

The condition of things was the same in 


Lingke, 167. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


251 


Jena and the vicinity. Seckendorf tells us 
that of seventy-five pastors, ten or twelve who 
were not only stupid and ignorant, but also 
obstinate, were dismissed from office; many 
who were a little farther advanced in piety and 
intelligence were retained, although they could 
do nothing more than read their sermons from 
a book. 

During his sojourn in Weimar, he had a 
dreary field to cultivate and many thorns and 
brambles to eradicate. The same state of 
things existed in other sections of Thuringia, 
so that the Elector found himself compelled to 
devote much attention to the work of visita¬ 
tion. 

We are indebted to Burkhardt, 138, for a 
letter of the Elector of July 25, 1528, to Lu¬ 
ther, Schurf, Melanchthon and Pauli, in which 
he designates the visitors for the whole of 
Saxony. To these was added a second one to 
Luther exclusively, of August 30, which shows 
the deep anxiety the noble Elector felt for the 
welfare of the church. In these letters he dis¬ 
tinctly specifies the places to be visited, the 
persons to whom the different parishes are to 
be entrusted for visitation, and some special 


252 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

subjects to be investigated. Every point is 
distinctly noticed, and the whole plan very 
plainly laid down. 

When the interests of a church lie so near 
the heart of a prince as was the case in John 
the Constant, they must flourish and become 
strong in resisting the opposition of the enemy 
in whatever form he may assume. 

We have no direct information of the time 
when Luther returned from Weimar to Wit¬ 
tenberg. But this is certain, that in Septem¬ 
ber he was again summoned to Torgau by 
order of the Elector. Melanchthon was with 
him, which was the fourth time in this year, 
for in a letter he says, “ I have been called to 
Torgau three times, and now I am summoned 
again the fourth time.” This journey also had 
reference to the welfare of the church, especi¬ 
ally the business of visitation. Melanchthon 
and Bugenhagen were also present. 

After laboring hard in the work of visitation 
by writing and preaching during this year, a 
double service called him to Lochau (Anna- 
berg) on October 25 (1528), which he men¬ 
tions in a letter to John Agricola of the same 
date: 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


253 


“ I am about setting out for Lochau, for the 
purpose of marrying Magister Stiefel to the 
widow of M. Franciscus, the former bishop of 
that place, and also to instal him into the pas¬ 
torate.”* 

Michael Stiefel, an Augustinian, who was 
born at Eulingen, adopted the Protestant faith 
at a very early period, and entered into corre¬ 
spondence with Luther in 1523, the result of 
which was a strong mutual attachment. When 
Stiefel, whom Luther represented as a pious, 
learned and active man, was expelled from his 
own country for preaching the gospel, Luther 
succeeded in procuring for him the position of 
domestic chaplain in the family of Christoph 
Jdrger, a man of high social standing. When 
he relinquished this place, as he was desirous 
of a wider field of activity, Luther took him 
into his own house. 

As Luther was apprehensive that Stiefel 
might suppose he was burdensome to him, he 
recommended him to the Elector, as we have 
seen above, as pastor in Lochau. His inter¬ 
cession was successful, and on the bishop’s 
(pastor’s) death, Stiefel was appointed to the 

* De Wette, iii. 394. 


22 



254 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

place. Luther not only inducted him into his 
office, but also performed the marriage service 
between him and the widow of his predecessor. 
And this was the double duty which called 
him to Lochau. Subsequently Stiefel became 
a fanatic, and after numerous melancholy 
events in his life, he died in Jena, on April 19, 
1567. 

VISITATION JOURNEYS TO KEMBERG, SCHWEINITZ, 
TORGAU, AND OTHER PLACES. 

The system of visitation was now distinctly 
organized. What Luther had heretofore done 
of his will, impelled by his conscience and his 
love for the work of reformation, he now did 
by order of the Elector, after the whole matter 
had been systematically arranged. 

In October, 1528, he properly entered upon 
the work with his assistants. 

By order of the Elector, he himself traveled 
through the district of Meissen, accompanied 
by John Metsch, Dr. Benedict Pauli, Bernhard 
von Hirschfeld and John von Taubenheim.* 

To Spalatin he wrote, October 20 (1528): 

“ Philip has gone to Thuringia; we shall soon 


UnschUldige Nachr., 1703, 19. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


255 


enter upon our visitation tour.” In a letter to 
Brisgen, October 29, he says, “ I write as 
visitor overwhelmed in business.”* That this 
work was continued in November, appears 
from a letter to Nicolas Amsdorf, of November 
I, “We are engaged in our work, and every¬ 
where we find poverty and want.”f 

He does not write in a more encouraging 
tone to Spalatin on November 8. “ Our work 

is progressing, but what misery do we see !”J 
And at another place, he says, “ In our Wit¬ 
tenberg district, we find the pastors on good 
terms with their peasantry, but the people are 
very neglectful of the Word and Sacraments.” 
On November 14, he writes, “ We have spent 
nearly a whole month in visiting our neigh¬ 
borhood.’^ 

In a letter of Luther, Metsch and Pauli to 
the Elector, which Burkhardt gives us (pp. 
150-51), they petition him to allow Hans von 

*De Wette, iii. 391, 396. “ Occupatismus scribo visitator, 
lector, predicator, scriptor, auditor, actor, cursor, procurator, 
et quid non.” 

f De Wette, iii. 398. 

X Ibid. 

\ Hall, a. Thl. xxi. 1137. Neither De Wette nor Burk¬ 
hardt has these last letters. 



2 56 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


Taubenheim, his treasurer, to remain with them 
as keeper of accounts, to the end of the Wit¬ 
tenberg visitation. 

As Luther about this time was in bad 
health, the work was principally prosecuted by 
Melanchthon, with the aid of the Electoral 
Councillors. 

During Luther’s absence, Justus Jonas be¬ 
came his substitute; in the meantime Bugen- 
hagen was called to Hamburg, from which 
place he wrote several letters to Luther.* 
This shows that Bugenhagen could have been 
of little assistance to him at this time. 

The work systematically begun in 1528 was 
continued in the beginning of the year 1529. 
We find him in Schweinitz in January, as ap¬ 
pears from a letter to the Elector John of 
January y,f in which he pleads earnestly in 
behalf of a citizen of Muhlhausen. 

The work was interrupted in March. He 
writes to Nicolas Amsdorf on March 15, “I 
am discharged from the office of visitor, and I 
am prevented from further prosecuting it by 
some special devices of Satan. I hope, how- 


* Burkhardt, 144-45-48. 
f De Wette, iii. 416. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


257 


ever, soon to recommence it.” This expres¬ 
sion doubtless refers to the plague then raging 
in Wittenberg, and his own ill-health. But the 
Elector did not suffer the work to be delayed, 
and adopted wise measures for its continu¬ 
ance. The further prosecution of it was en¬ 
trusted to a competent official character at 
Bitterfeld, and to the pastor at Colditz.* 

But Luther resumed the work, and arrived 
at Torgau on April 20. On the 26th the ar¬ 
rangements were consummated; the plan had 
his signature and seal, and with him were as¬ 
sociated Justus Jonas, Bastian von Kotterizsch, 
Bernhard von Hirschfeld, Benedict Pauli, John 
von Taubenheim and Wolfgang Fuess, pastor 
at Colditz. 

On this occasion Luther had some trouble 
with an Anabaptist goldsmith. The latter was 
imprisoned for his bad conduct. 

On May 3d, these visitors again departed 
upon their journey. 

After this time Luther was diligently occu¬ 
pied with various other affairs, but never los- 
ing sight of the visitation work. 

On these tours he gained such a rich fund 

*Burkhardt, 158. 

22* 


R 



258 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

of experience, that he felt compelled to write' 
the large and small catechisms, for the assist¬ 
ance of the clergy as well as the laity. In re¬ 
lation to the latter he says, “ I hold that the 
Government is bound to compel parents to 
send their children to school. If it can com¬ 
pel the subjects to bear arms in time of war, 
how much more that they send their children 
to school; for we now are waging an individual 
war with the abominable devil, who is going 
about secretly trying to destroy towns and the 
Government, and to drive away to ruin all good 
and useful people. He bores out the kernel, and 
nothing is left but the bare husk of good-for- 
nothing folk, with whom he can play his con¬ 
juring tricks as he likes. Hence, be upon your 
guard, ye who can ! Hear it, ye dear Germans. 
I have told you—ye have heard your prophet!” 

He already saw the fruits of his labor 
among the youth of his day: 

“ The young people are improving so much 
by the use of the Catechism and the Scrip¬ 
ture, that it does my heart good to see that 
now they pray, believe, and speak more and 
better of God and of Christ, than formerly all 
the convents and schools could.” 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


259 


JOURNEY TO MARBURG. 

The Landgrave Philip of Hesse, the Mag¬ 
nanimous, was desirous of strengthening the 
associates of the alliance established for the 
defence of the evangelical states, by the acces¬ 
sion of those who adhered to the doctrine of 
Zwingli; and for the accomplishment of this 
design, he endeavored to reconcile Luther and 
Zwingli, who differed from each other on the 
doctrine of the Lord’s Supper. Hence he in¬ 
vited Luther to a religious colloquium with 
CEkolampadius and Zwingli, at Marburg.* 
Luther wrote to the Landgrave on June 23, 
in which he expresses his opinion that this 
conference would result in nothing important. 

“ I have,” says he, “ received Your Grace’s 
letter, in which you inform me of your earnest 
desire that I should repair to Marburg, to have 
an interview with CEkolampadius and his asso¬ 
ciates, on the subject of the difference of opin¬ 
ion upon the Sacrament, if perchance God 
might bring about peace and unity. Although 

* The Landgrave wrote to Luther and Melanchthon, in¬ 
forming them that the men of the opposite party would also 
come to the colloquium, wherefore they should punctually 
appear, and devise measures for peace and unity. Burk- 
hardt, 165. De Wette iii., 473. 



26 o 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


I have never entertained any strong hope of 
such peace, yet your Grace’s zeal and anxiety 
in this matter are greatly to be praised; and I 
for my part, am willing, for the sake of your 
Grace,'to engage in this hopeless service, and 
yet perhaps which after all may be accom¬ 
plished. For I am not willing that the oppo¬ 
site party shall have the credit of being more 
inclined to peace and unity than I am. 

“ It appears to me that they, taking advan¬ 
tage of your Grace’s zeal, are trying to play a 
trick upon us, from which no good will result; 
and that is, that they may hereafter boast to 
our discredit that it was not their fault, for 
they had even influenced great princes in its 
behalf; and thus, through your Grace, they 
would bring dishonor upon us, and greatly 
magnify themselves by representing us as the 
enemies of peace and of the truth.” 

At this time, Luther had adopted such a 
strong and assured view of the Lord’s Supper, 
founded upon the holy Scriptures, holding it 
to be the only correct one, that he well knew he 
could not yield in this point, if he would not be 
unfaithful to the opinion derived from the Scrip¬ 
tures ; and hence he says at the end of his letter: 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


26 l 

“ For it is certain, if they do not yield, we 
will separate without any good result, and 
shall have come together in vain, and your 
Grace’s trouble and zeal will have been for 
nothing.” 

We find a similar opinion in a letter in De 
Wette of June, without specifying the date, 
which also coincides with one he wrote on 
August 2 to John Brisman.* 

Neither did Melanchthon cherish any 
brighter hope of a favorable result; and hence, 
in a letter to the Electoral Prince John Fred¬ 
erick, he advised him to influence the Elector 
his father, to refuse his permission for this 
journey to Marburg, f 

*De Wette, iii. 491. “ Vocavit nos Landgravius Hassiae 

ad diem Michaelis Marburgum, tentaturus concordiam inter 
nos et Sacramentarios. Philippus et ego, cum diu recusasse- 
mus et frustra reluctati essemus, tandem coacti sumus im- 
probitate ejus promittere, nos venturos, nec dum scio, an 
profectus procedet.” De Wette expresses it very mildly, 
when he says that Luther complains in this letter of the 
turbulent spirit of the Landgrave, for the word “ improbitas” 
clearly means something more, Luther most probably 
means by this word, that the Landgrave was more con¬ 
cerned about the Alliance in this meeting at Marburg than 
the doctrine , which was not untrue, 
f Hall, a. Thl. xvii. 2356. 



262 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

But his effort was fruitless. The meeting 
was fixed for the 29th of September, (The 
Festival of St. Michael.) 

About September 23d, Luther, accompanied 
by Melanchthon, Justus Jonas and Caspar 
Cruciger left Wittenberg, and proceeded on 
their journey through Erfurt, Gotha and 
Eisenach.* 

According to the Town Records of Erfurt, 
Luther preached there on this occasion in the 
church of The Minorites. 

From Gotha, he took with him as a travel¬ 
ing companion, the Superintendent Myconius, 
and in Eisenach Justus Menius joined the 
company. 

According to a letter of October 17 to 
Frederick Myconius, he reminds him of ma¬ 
king a full report on the prophecy of a monk, 
of which he had spoken to him in Eisenach. 

During their sojourn at Eisenach on this 
journey, there occurred the following event, as 
narrated by Toppius in his History of Eisen¬ 
ach, p. 81. A poor man murdered a widower, 
who, out of compassion, had taken him into 
his house. His money was taken, and his 


* Sinnhold de Meritis Lutheri in Ecclcc. Erford, 21. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


263 

body was thrown, into the cellar. The mur¬ 
derer fled, but was apprehended, and confessed 
his guilt. As Luther and Melanchthon hap¬ 
pened to be present, he turned to Luther with 
the request that he would intercede in his be¬ 
half with the Elector. Luther replied, “ That 
the sin was too heinous for him to accede to 
such a request, but that he would use his influ¬ 
ence to have his punishment rendered as leni¬ 
ent as possible.” 

ARRIVAL IN MARBURG, AND THE COLLOQUIUM. 

On the Thursday after Michaelmas (Septem¬ 
ber 30th), Luther and his traveling companions 
arrived at Marburg. 

They were graciously received by the Land¬ 
grave, and were quartered, not in the city, as 
was first determined, but in the castle, although 
they soon after occupied a special residence.* 

Besides those already mentioned, and M. 
George Noverius, from Wittenberg, there were 
present at the colloquium, on the Lutheran side, 
Andrew Osiander, John Brentius, from Halle, 
in Suabia, upon whom Melanchthon pronounces 
a very favorable judgment, and Stephen Agri- 

*A house near “The Bears’ Fountain” is to this day 
pointed out as Luther’s residence. 



264 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

cola, preacher at Augsburg; which three, be¬ 
sides Luther, Jonas, and Melanchthon, signed 
the articles subsequently adopted. 

On the part of the Swiss there appeared 
John CEekolampadius, Doctor of Theology at 
Basel, Ulrich Zwingli, preacher at Zurich, 
Martin Bucer, preacher at Strassburg, and 
Caspar Hedio, preacher at the same place, all 
of whom also signed the agreement. It ap¬ 
pears from this, that Myconius and Menius 
took no active part in the colloquium, but were 
only Luther’s companions and silent hearers. 

By the direction of the Landgrave, besides 
several of his councillors, there were present 
the Hessian Court preacher, M. Adam Fulda, 
the Superintendent Crato (Kraft), and the Pro¬ 
fessor of Theology, Dr. Franciscus Lambertus, 
John Schneff, John Lonicerus, Dr. Stephen 
Frosch, and Melander, preacher at Cassel. 

Of the civil dignitaries who were in Mar¬ 
burg at that time, the following especially de¬ 
serve mention: Eberhard von der Thann, 
Bailiff at the Wartburg; Jacob Storm, a prom¬ 
inent member of the Council at Strassburg, 
Ulrich P'unke, Councillor at Zurich; and Ru¬ 
dolph Frey, Councillor at Basel. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


265 


The Landgrave adopted the prudent meas¬ 
ure that on October 1st Luther should have a 
private interview with CEkolampodius,and Mel- 
anchthon with Zwingli, thus opposing one of 
ardent temperament with one of moderate dis¬ 
position, who would not on account of their 
previous controversies enter upon the discus¬ 
sion with resentment against each other. To 
the objection against the doctrine of Zwingli, 
the latter replied so satisfactorily, as Melanch- 
thon reports, that he in part recanted what he 
had formerly written upon the subject. 

On October 2d the public discussion took 
place, at which were present the Landgrave, 
his principal councillors, and the persons men¬ 
tioned above. 

In the course of the debate upon the Lord’s 
Supper, it was 'soon made evident that there 
was no prospect of yielding on either side, as 
the three grounds, which the Swiss theologi¬ 
ans adduced as their defence, as well as the 
refutation of them by Luther, had been so fre¬ 
quently brought forward in the writings of 
both parties and answered. 

On October 3d, the debate was resumed in 
a hall next to the Landgrave’s chamber, and 
23 


266 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


was continued to the evening, after Luther 
had preached on this day on Spiritual Right¬ 
eousness, or the Forgiveness of Sins.* 

These two public debates by no means de¬ 
cided the controversy on the doctrine of the 
Holy Supper, which can easily be conceived, 
for both parties assumed an entirely different 
standpoint. 

The Landgrave hence felt himself compelled 
on October 4th to make another attempt to 
reconcile the contending parties. 

The result was that Luther and Melanch- 
thon held a special interview with Zwingli and 
CEkolampodius, whilst Brentz treated with 
Martin Bucer and Hedio. But this attempt 
also failed to accomplish the design. 

Luther then felt himself compelled to pre¬ 
pare fourteen, some say fifteen articles, upon 
which they agreed and both parties signed. 
In the last, the papal doctrine of the Holy 
Supper was denounced, by which it was de¬ 
clared that, although they could not agree on 

*The tradition is still extant that Luther on his way to 
the castle exclaimed at every step, Hoc cst! Hoc est! (This 
is! This is!) as an admonition to himself not to depart 
from his doctrine of the Lord’s Supper. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


267 


this point, yet each party should as far as their 
conscience allowed, exhibit Christian love to 
the other. 

Of this date, we have a letter from Luther to 
his wife, in which, among other things, he 
says :* 

“ Dear Mrs. Kate, this is to let you know 
that our friendly talk in Marburg has come to 
an end, and we are one on nearly all points, 
except that the other side maintains that it is 
mere bread in the sacrament, and that Christ is 
therein only spiritually present. To-day the 
Landgrave is trying to reconcile us in our 
views, or, if we cannot agree, that, at least, we 
should regard each other as brethren and mem¬ 
bers of Christ. He betrayed ardent zeal in 
this endeavor. But of this, ‘ brethren and 
members/ we will not hear, though we are still 
desirous of entertaining the utmost kindness 
towards them.” 

He writes the same subsequently (October 

*De Wette, iii. 512. Ibid, iii. 513. To Verbellius he 
writes, De Wette, vol. iii. p. ill, “ Charitatem et pacem 
etiam hostibus, debemus. Sane detruntiatum est eis, nisi et 
hoc articulo resipiscant, charitate quidem nostra posse eos 
uti, sed in fratrum et christi membrorum a nobis censori non 
posse.” 




268 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


12) from Jena to John Agricola, in which he 
especially declares that he holds fast to the 
words, “ This is my body.” 

Towards the end, he also says, “At last they 
besought us that we would at least, recognize 
them as brethren , upon which the Landgrave 
insisted strongly; but that could not be 
granted to them. We, however, extended the 
hand of peace and love, and that, in the mean¬ 
time, all unduly severe language in writing or 
speech be avoided, and that each party should 
teach its opinions without unbecoming coarse¬ 
ness, but not without defence and opposition. ” 

During his sojourn at Marburg, he also sent 
a communication to the Landgrave Philip, in 
which he vindicates the doctrine of the bodily 
presence of Christ in the sacrament, by quota¬ 
tions from the Church Fathers.* 

When Hempel in his Church History*}* 
blames Luther for betraying, on this occasion, 
a severe and unjustifiable zeal in maintaining a 
favorite doctrine or a dishonorable triumph, he 
certainly goes too far, and forgets to place 
himself upon Luther’s standpoint, by whom 

* Ibid, iii. 508. 

f History of the Christian Religion. Leipzig, 1530, i. 
353 - 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


269 

the Word of God was estimated above all 
other things, and from which he could not de¬ 
viate, even at the sacrifice of peace with all 
men. But we believe that those also in our 
times go too far, and aid in disturbing the 
peace of the Christian church, who, like Lu¬ 
ther, are constantly exclaiming, “ this is” 
alone, and do not recognize that it also con¬ 
ceals within it “it represents,” as the Scrip¬ 
tures plainly prove, and as Luther himself in 
his catechism shows. 

Leopold Ranke beautifully and truly says : 
“ How much misapprehension about the arti¬ 
cles of faith, how many controversies, would 
vanish, and how much true union would ensue, 
if men would determine to read Luther’s writ¬ 
ings with hearts desirous of securing salva¬ 
tion.”* 

If we plant ourselves with Luther upon the 
Scriptures, if we teach, with him out of and ac¬ 
cording to the Scriptures, while so many ele¬ 
vate themselves above the Bible, and make out 
of it what they desire; then we would more 
and more show ourselves to be members of 
One Body, and find in the repentance which the 

* Voices of the Church, 1872. No. 178. 

23* 



270 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

Holy Supper requires, and in the grace which 
it offers to us, a basis of union, which would 
elevate us above all mere verbal controversy, 
and would not suffer us to substitute the letter 
for the spirit. 

But as we are not yet what we should be, 
let us follow after that which is yet lacking, 
and patiently bear with each other, giving heed 
to the admonition of Paul, in Phil. iii. 12: “Not 
as though I had already attained, either were 
already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may 
apprehend.” 

RETURN TO WITTENBERG. I 5 29. 

Although the Landgrave did not fully ac¬ 
complish his object in reconciling the theolo¬ 
gians, and thus uniting the states of the Em¬ 
pire with each other, upon whom they had 
great influence, and perhaps also with the 
evangelical league, yet he continued his exer¬ 
tions to bring about this covenant. 

Luther left Marburg on October 5 (1529) 
with his associates, some of whom, however, 
separated from him, as we shall presently see, 
because a plague had broken out in Marburg, 
as at other places. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


271 


On September 28 he was summoned to 
Schleiz by the Elector. The latter and the 
Margrave of Brandenburg had gone to this 
place for the purpose of deliberating, in the 
absence of the Landgrave of Hesse, upon the 
instructions to be given to their deputies to 
the ensuing Schwabach Convention. 

They determined “ not to enter into a cove¬ 
nant with any one who would not maintain 
with them, now and for the future, the true 
Christian faith, and the same form and doctrine 
on Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.” Aside 
from this, however, they were ready to risk 
everything for the gospel, because self-defence 
is allowed to everyone by natural and imperial 
laws, and even the highest temporal authority 
has no right to deprive any one of this natural 
protection. 

The Convention at Schwabach (October 10, 
1529), before which were laid the so-called 
Schwabach Articles written by Luther, as the 
basis of any possible union, in which the op¬ 
position to the Zwinglian doctrine was promi¬ 
nently set forth, was unproductive of any per¬ 
manent result. 

On October 10, 1529, Luther, accompanied 


272 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

by Melanchthon, as the Elector desired, ar¬ 
rived at Schleiz, as a letter from Melanchthon to 
Agricola informs us, whilst his associates had 
separated themselves from him on the way, 
and took the direct road to Wittenberg, Menius 
accompanied him to Eisenach, and Myconius 
to Gotha, where Luther, as before observed, 
preached. At all events, the Elector desired to 
have his and Melanchthon’s advice on the 
Schwabach Convention, and upon the instruc¬ 
tions to be given to the deputies to that meeting. 

Luther was so unwell upon his journey 
towards home, that he did not believe he 
would live to reach it. 

But, contrary to all apprehension, he arrived 
safely in Wittenberg, after he had gone from 
Schleiz to Jena.* 

Although, after his return, he was tormented 
by melancholy thoughts, particularly on ac¬ 
count of the Turkish war, yet the turbulent 
waves of the controversy were calmed, and in 
a letter to Amsdorf he mentions the friendly 
reception which the Landgrave had given him 
at Marburg. In a sermon which he preached 
after his return on Deut. vii., he says : 


*De Welte, lii. 513. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


273 


“ We were exposed to no peril on the way, 
and in that God heard your prayer, for which 
you should be thankful. Our opponents also 
treated us very kindly and respectfully, to a 
greater degree than we apprehended. They 
admitted that in the sacrament we receive conso¬ 
lation and increase of faith, but they cannot yet 
believe that the real substantial body and blood 
of Christ are present. We observed this much, 
that if it had depended upon themselves, they 
would have yielded; but as they had a distinct 
order from their party, they could not adopt 
our views. They do not deny that the true 
body and blood of Christ are present , which 
sounds as if they believed with us. They con¬ 
fess that they must go to the sacrament , and 
there become partakers of the true body and 
blood , but spiritually , that is, that they have 
Christ in the heart; but to receive it corporeally , 
that they will not admit. Hence, the condition 
of things is hopeful.* I do not say that there 

* A clear proof that Luther did not regard the contro¬ 
versy as closed, but that he hoped for a future church fellow¬ 
ship, provided that the gospel would be assumed as the 
basis, and that the true intent and real blessing of the Holy 
Supper, concerning which unity prevails, although there be 
doctrinal differences, should not be forgotten amid the con¬ 
troversy on the nature of Christ’s presence. 

S 



274 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


exists a fraternal unity (a united church fellow¬ 
ship), but a kind friendly agreement , which 
leads them to seek in us what they lack, and 
we in return render service to them.”* 

Luther reached Wittenberg on the 16th or 
17th of October.*)" 


* Seckendorf, Tit. iv. 757. 
f De Wette, iii. 514-16. 




CHAPTER V. 

JOURNEYS NEAR THE PRESENTATION OF 
THE AUGSBURG CONFESSION, ijjo. 

% JOURNEYS TO PRETTIN, BELZIG, RINGETHAL 
AND TORGAU. 1530 . 

Visitation Tours. Articles of Torgau. 

N his return, he resumed his active labors 



V_y in preaching and lecturing to the Uni¬ 
versity students, but he never for a moment 
lost sight of the affairs and condition of the 
church. Towards the end of the year 1529 
and the beginning of 1530, he employed him¬ 
self again with the business of visitation, and 
on December 20, 1529, we find him at Prettin 
on this account. 

We have a letter from the Elector to Luther 
and Jonas, calling their attention to Eilenburg, 
Bitterfeld and Belzig, whilst other places must 
not be overlooked. 

In accordance with this direction, we find 


( 275 ) 



2 j6 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

Luther, Jonas, and the licentiate Pauli, as well 
as John von Taubenheim, at Belzig on January 
14 , 1530 . 

Towards the end of March, he went to Tor¬ 
gau. The Elector had written a letter to Lu¬ 
ther, Jonas, Bugenhagen and Melanchthon, 
conveying an order for them to appear at Tor- 
gau for the purpose of considering the pro¬ 
priety of preparing certain articles for the ap¬ 
proaching Diet of Augsburg, and other matters 
of business relating to the same event. He 
writes again on March 21, summoning them to 
Torgau after they had among themselves de¬ 
liberated upon the Diet and the general inter¬ 
ests of religion, and to bring with them the 
books in which they were so deeply concerned. 
These “ books” were the articles of which the 
basis was laid in Marburg, which were deliv¬ 
ered to the Elector in Schleiz, and which 
afterwards were more thoroughly elaborated in 
Schwabach and Torgau. This system of doc¬ 
trine grew to the stature of a youth in these 
two places, whilst in Augsburg it attained his 
full manly strength and massive proportions, 
after it had been brought into feeble existence 
at Marburg. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


277 


Without being able to give the reasons for 
the delay, this is certain, that the men ap¬ 
pointed to discharge this important service de¬ 
livered the seventeen articles at Torgau 
towards the end of March. 

Salig, in his history of the Augsburg Con¬ 
fession, Pt. i, 159, says very truly: 

“ It was not necessary for Dr. Luther to 
compose new articles, but he only retained 
those designated above as the Schwabach, 
which are identical with those of Torgau; for 
as it was thought sufficient at the Schwabach 
conference to set forth the Lutheran doctrine 
distinctly; this was now enough out of which 
to make a perfect Confession.” 

Those which were presented by Luther and 
his associates were, as is well known, called 
The Torgau Articles. 

JOURNEYS TO COBURG, BY WAY OF TORGAU. 

Diet of Augsburg. 1530. 

The Convention appointed to meet at Niirn- 
berg on January 6, 1530, was arranged by the 
Protestant princes and states. 

The deputies first mutually aimed at the 

*Burkhardt, 173. 

24 



2 yS 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


certain solution of the question, whether they 
and their principals and constituents sincerely 
adopted The Torgau Articles, and discussed 
the expediency of sending a new commission 
to the Emperor. But nothing was settled, so 
that this meeting was for the most part fruitless. 

In the meantime, the Emperor had spent 
four full months, from November, 1529, to 
March, 1530, in Bologna, in one and the same 
palace with the pope; and the fearful covenant 
which he had concluded with the pope in Bar¬ 
celona on July 15, 1529, could no longer re¬ 
main a secret. The papal deputies, especially 
the clergy, openly expressed their joy and 
their high hopes respecting it. 

In the meantime also, the Emperor, on 
January 21, 1530, proclaimed a Diet to be 
held at Augsburg on April 8. The proclama¬ 
tion was composed of the very mildest terms. 
But it cannot be determined with certainty 
whether these kind words were intended as 
mere enticements, or whether the Chancellor 
Gattinera (Mercurinus) had really induced the 
Emperor to inaugurate a reformation in doc¬ 
trine and morals , and to treat the question of 
religion with moderation and gentleness. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


279 


The Elector received the papal proclama¬ 
tion on March n, after having previously 
(March 6) received a conscientious opinion 
prepared by Luther, Jonas, Bugenhagen and 
Melanchthon, in which the question, Whether 
it would be right to oppose the Emperor with 
arms ? was answered in the negative.* On 
November 28, 1529^ previously, a similar 
opinion was given, and everything like con¬ 
certed opposition to the Emperor was de¬ 
nounced. 

The Elector was advised by some not to at¬ 
tend the Diet; but he was not dissuaded, and 
began to prepare for the journey immediately 
upon receiving the Emperor’s letter. The 
Landgrave Philip of Hesse also tried to pre¬ 
vail upon him not to appear at Augsburg. In 
a letter to Luther on March 14, the Elector 
thus expresses his intention :§ 

* De Wette, iii. 560, 526. 
f De Wette, iii. 526. 

J Burkhardt, 173. On January 27, 1530, the Elector had 
written to Luther, inquiring whether in the event of the Em- 
peror using violence against him in the affair of religion, he 
should endure it or resist it ? 

g Hall, A. Thl. xvi. 764. Burkhardt, 173. 



280 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

“ It is my gracious desire that you, Dr. 
Martin, and Dr. Jonas, Provost, also Magister 
Philip Melanchthon, should so arrange your 
own business, and so far as possible provide 
instructors in our University of Wittenberg 
during your absence, and that on the day 
which I shall designate, you shall again meet 
me in Torgau, and then, in company with 
Magister Spalatin and Eisleben (Agricola), 
travel with us as far as Coburg.” 

On April 2, Luther himself wrote on this 
subject to Nicolas Hausman and Conrad Cor- 
datus.* To the first, he says, “ I am going 
with the prince as far as Coburg, and at the 
same time with Philip and Jonas, until we learn 
how matters are proceeding at Augsburg”— 
and to the latter, “ I hear that you are very 
anxious to go to the Diet, but I have no ad¬ 
vice to give you upon the subject: first, be¬ 
cause I myself am not invited there, but only 
to accompany the Elector for some distance 
on the way, for particular reasons.” 

In obedience to the Elector’s order, Luther 
proceeded to Torgau, where he probably ar¬ 
rived with Melanchthon and Jonas on April 2. 


De Wette, iii. 566-68. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


281 


On April 3 the Elector left Torgau with a 
numerous retinue, among whom were Prince *" 
John Frederick, Duke Franz of Luneburg, 
Prince Wolfgang of Anhalt, Count Albert and 
other Counts and Barons, accompanied by 
Luther, Jonas, Melanchthon, Spalatin, and 
Osiander, whilst Agricola was in the retinue 
of Count Albert of Mansfeld. 

During his brief stay at Torgau, Luther was 
challenged to a disputation by John Cam- 
panus, who had done the same thing at Mar¬ 
burg, without, however, accepting it as he had 
also done at Marburg. 

Before the Elector left Torgau, he ordered 
Luther to preach in the Castle church on the 
same day, on Matt. x. 32. “ He that confesseth 
me before men,” etc., and after the sermon, he 
entered upon the tour. Muller’s Sachsischen 
Annalen, p. 84, gives the following account: 

“On April 3, 1530, the Elector John of 
Saxony, with the Electoral Prince, Duke John 
Frederick, left Torgau and repaired to Augs¬ 
burg, to attend the Diet proclaimed by the 
Emperor Charles V., at which the subjects of 
religion and the Turkish war were to be con¬ 
sidered. 


24' 


282 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


“His suite was composed of i. Duke Franz 
of Luneburg, 2. Prince Wolfgang of Anhalt, 
and 3. Count Albert of Mansfeld, besides 
seventy Saxon nobles, who, together with the 
attendants and servants, made a cavalcade of 
one hundred and seventy men on horseback. 
The theologians whom he took with him, 
were: 

“ I. Dr. Martin Luther, 2. Justus Jonas, 3. 
Philip Melanchthon, 4. John Agricola,* 5. 
George Spalatin, and 6. Andrew OsianderTf 

Probably they passed the first night at 
Grimma, for there was an electoral castle there, 
in which the Elector spent a night on his re¬ 
turn. 

On the following day, April 4, they arrived 
at Altenberg.J On April 6, they had pro¬ 
ceeded as far as Eisenberg.§ 

What Mathesius says in his 12th Sermon, 
144, perhaps belongs here: 

* He was properly in the retinue of the Count of Mansfeld. 

f He is not mentioned anywhere else as an accompanying 
theologian. Neither Seckendorf nor Saubert, nor the Hall. 
A. mention him in this connection. 

J Coelestinus, i. c. 

I Ibid. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 283 

“ On a certain occasion, Luther was at 
Eisenberg, and upon going into the church he 
heard the Introit sung in German according to 
the Latin notes or tune, and he was much an¬ 
noyed. When he returned to the inn, the 
landlord asked him what had happened. “ I 
thought,” said he, “that I would take the 
chills over their stupid singing. If they want 
to sing German, let them sing good German 
hymns ; if they want to sing Latin, as scholars 
should do, let them stick to the old chorals 
and texts”—and concluded, “ I am opposed to 
these people who are mixing up new and old 
in the church service, for they will do the 
same thing in doctrine in the course of time.” 

Although we cannot specify the day of their 
departure from Eisenberg, yet we know that 
he arrived at Weimar, in the retinue of the 
Elector, on Saturday, April 9. 

On the following day, which was Palm Sun¬ 
day, the Elector with the Elector Prince, 
Duke Franz, and others of the suite, partook 
of the Lord’s Supper. 

As they remained there some days, Luther 
preached several times before the Elector.* 


* Coelestinus, i. c. f. 29. 




284 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


The next place was Saalfeld, where he also 
preached, and in the castle at Graefenthal, and 
at Neustadt. 

Who must not admire the man who, amid 
such severe exertions of mind and body, would 
not even allow himself any rest upon his jour¬ 
neys, but embraced the opportunity every¬ 
where of sowing the seed of the Divine Word 
in the hearts of men ? 

But we now accompany him to the fortress, 
which was to conceal him during the severe 
contest which was conducted at Augsburg. 

ARRIVAL AT COBURG, AND THE ARRANGEMENTS 
IN THE FORTRESS. I 530 . 

The Elector arrived at Coburg on April 16, 
1530, with Luther, where the latter was left, 
partly because they were apprehensive that his 
ardent zeal might betray him into indiscretion, 
partly because it seemed dangerous to permit 
one who had been outlawed by the Emperor 
to appear so conspicuously, to which must be 
added that he was also under the ban of the 
pope, and that he had no safe conduct to the 
Diet at Augsburg. It was necessary, how¬ 
ever, that he should be in the vicinity, that he 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 285 

might be consulted on all important and diffi¬ 
cult points. 

The cavalcade remained at Coburg for some 
time, and Luther had opportunity to preach 
several times before the Elector and his retinue. 
On Saturday, April 23d, the Elector proceeded 
to Bamberg, from which place, by way of 
Nurnberg and Donaluwerth, he reached Augs¬ 
burg. 

Luther occupied at Coburg a large mansion, 
which was connected with the citadel, called 
Ehrenburg. 4 

Chambers were prepared for him, and he ex¬ 
presses his gratification with the entertain¬ 
ment, and describes his quarters as agreeable 
and well adapted to the purposes of study. 
To Melanchthon he writes: “ We have at last 
reached our Sinai, but out of this Sinai we 
shall make a Zion.* 

He kept this place of his residence con¬ 
cealed for the most part, and in most of his 
letters he gives feigned names, as, “ From the 
Gruboc, From the Solitude, From the Re¬ 
gion of the Birds, From the Assembly of the 
Rooks.” These birds swarmed around the 

* Hall, A. Thl. xvi., 2827. 



286 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


citadel, and attracted his particular attention. 
He compared their gathering in flocks to the 
Diet at Augsburg, and their screams to the 
clamor of his opponents. Yet the song of the 
nightingale, which serenaded him in his soli¬ 
tude, delighted him, and often cheered him in 
his hours of dejection.* 

In his letter to Melanchthon of April 22d, 
he represents his residence as a very large 
house which projects from the citadel, in which 
thirty persons dwell, twelve of whom are 
troopers, who stand guarcfc daily. Veit Deit- 
rich, who as a student lived with Luther, 
shared his solitude, although at a later period, 
as we shall see below, he must have gone to 
Augsburg at Luther’s special instance, to re¬ 
port to him the condition of things at the Diet. 

In the midst of his anxieties and troubles 
and apprehensions, from which he was not 
free, he still struggled to maintain a cheerful 
temper. In a letter to Jonas, of April 22d, he 
playfully speaks of the song and noise of var¬ 
ious kinds of birds, and on April 28th he 
writes to his friends, “ Concerning the state of 
things here, I must inform you that we, 


*For letters to Hausmann and others, see Burkhardt, 174. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


287 


namely Veit (Dietrich) * and Cyriacusf are 
not going to the Diet at Augsburg, but we have 
a diet of quite a different sort. 

“ There is a small forest under our window, 
in which the jackdaws and the rooks have 
opened a diet; there is such a riding to and 
fro—such an incessant cawing day and night, 
as if they were all thoroughly and crazily 
drunk—young and old cackle among each 
other at such a rate, that I wonder how their 
lungs and breath can hold out so long. I 
wonder whether any representatives of this 
nobility and knight-errantry have thus far ap¬ 
peared among you ? for it seems to me that 
they have gathered here from all parts of the 
world. I have not yet seen their emperor, but 
their nobles and heads of great families are 
constantly expanding their tails before our 
eyes. They are not indeed sumptuously 
clothed, but they wear only one color, all 
alike in black, and all alike gray-eyed; they 

* But that Veit Dietrich went to Augsburg appears from 
a letter of his to Luther of November 19th, 1530, dated 
Nurnberg. See Burkhardt, 187. 

fCyriacus Kaufman, a son of Luther’s sister, whom we 
also find also among those who followed Luther to the 
grave. Muller’s Annalen, 104. 



288 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


all sing the same song in the same tune, but 
with a delightful difference of pitch between 
the young and the old, the little and the big. 
They do not envy the halls and palaces of the 
great, for their hall is arched by the wide and 
beautiful heavens, their floor is the broad field, 
wainscoted with green, flourishing foliage and 
flowers, the walls of which extend to the ends 
of the earth. Neither do they care about 
horses and carriages; they have winged 
wheels, by which they escape from the rifle. 

“ They are great and mighty lords, but I do 
not know what subjects they are discussing. 
But as far as I have learned from an inter¬ 
preter, they are carrying on a terrific fight 
against wheat, barley, oats, and all sorts of 
grain, and many a knight in this war will per¬ 
form mighty deeds. 

“ Thus we take our seats in the Diet, and 
with great pleasure hear and see how the 
Princes and other States of the Empire enjoy 
themselves. But it gives us particular delight 
to see the knightly dignity with which they 
waggle their tails, wipe off their bills, carry 
their armor, that they may conquer and ac¬ 
quire glory in their war with corn and malt. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 289 

We wish them all happiness and success, and 
that they may be impaled on one fence rail. 

“But I think that these are nothing else than 
the Sophists and the Papists, with their ser¬ 
mons and writings; these I must always have 
in view in a mass, that I may hear their pleas¬ 
ant voices and their preaching, and observe 
what a useful folk it is, in consuming every¬ 
thing there is on earth, and cackling for the 
whole world.” 

Whilst Luther was thus playful in his re¬ 
marks, and found in nature symbols of great 
events, he devoted himself to his accustomed 
studies with untiring diligence, and watched 
the proceedings of the Diet with unflagging 
interest. 

He wrote: “ An admonition to the clergy 
assembled at the Diet of Worms,” which ap¬ 
peared in June; and on June u the Elector 
sent copies of it to Dolzig. 

Although in this writing, as Mathesius says, 
the Roman religion was painted in all colors, 
yet it was read on July 3 by the Bishop of 
Augsburg in the Council. 

*Seckendorf Lib. ii. g 719. It was printed in 4to in 
1530, by Hans Suit. 

25 


T 



29O JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

According to a letter of May 8, to Wences- 
laus Link,* Luther was engaged in a transla¬ 
tion of the prophets. On May 11, the Elector 
John sent him the Confession prepared by 
Melanchthon,f upon which Luther forwarded 
his opinion as early as May 15.J “I have 
read,” said he, “ Mr. Philip’s apology (Augsburg 
Confession). It pleases me very much, and I 
cannot improve or change it, and would not be 
competent to do it, for I could not be so gentle 
and forbearing." 

In reference to the second point, relating to 
preaching at Augsburg, which the emperor 
wished to prohibit on the side of the evangel¬ 
ical party, he says, “ As his Imperial Majesty 
desires that your Electoral Grace should not 
permit your theologians to preach, my opinion 
is, as heretofore, that the Emperor is our lord, 
the city and all are his, just as nobody should 
resist your Grace’s will or desire in Torgau, 
which is your city.” 

About this time, he suffered much from 
sickness, and he especially complained of 

* De Wette, iv. 11. 

f Burkhardt, 175. 

J De Wette, iv. 17. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


29I 


headache, which he may have brought about 
by his almost uninterrupted study, although 
the state of the atmosphere at the castle, of 
which he complained, may have contributed to 
it. When the Elector, who was extremely 
solicitous about him, heard of it, he sent him 
a very kind letter and expressed his profound 
sympathy for him, with the fervent wish that 
God, for the sake of His Word, would long 
preserve his life;* he at the same time sent him 
medicine prescribed by Dr. Caspar. On the 
same day, Luther returned a letter of thanks.f 

In the midst of all this, he prosecuted his 
studies and employed himself with translating 
the Psalms; he had before translated the 
minor prophets, and of the greater , Jeremiah 
and Ezekiel, and also published the following 
writings: 

1. A Collection of Beautiful Passages for the 
Comfort of Souls. 

2. Exposition of the first 25 Psalms, as well 
as Ps. in, 117, and 118, which last he called 
the “ Beautiful Confitemini.” 

3. An extensive address to Albert, Arch- 


*Burkhardt, 175. 
f De Welte, iv. 19-23. 



292 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


bishop of Mainz, with the exposition of the 
Second Psalm. 

4. Forty Latin Perorations on the Power of 
the Church. 

5. A Book on the Keys of the Church and 
on Justification. 

6. Deliverance from Purgatory. 

7. Exhortation to the Sacrament of the 
Body and Blood of Christ. 

8. A Sermon on the Duty of Sending Chil¬ 
dren to School, and some other Treatises. 

Who will not admire this industry and per¬ 
severance? Besides this, he conducted an im¬ 
mense correspondence ; and numerous visits of 
friends took up so much of his time, that he 
complains of the latter in a letter to Melanch- 
thon of June 5. He mentions the names of 
Hans Megnick of Mansfeld, George Roemer, 
and Argula von Staufen, and determines to 
put a stop to these annoying visits. 

To his corporeal sufferings, were superadded 
spiritual temptations, so that at one time he 
thought his end was approaching, and partook 
of the sacrament from the castle Chaplain Kar- 
gen. 

But what depressed him above all was the 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 293 

intelligence of his father’s death, of which he 
informs Melanchthon on June 5.* 

But his strong faith imparted the needed 
consolation, and soon restored him to his 
usual state of mind. He was able to write 
cheerful letters to John Agricola and Caspar 
von Teutleben.f 

But the childlike disposition which he 
strove to cherish amid all his labor, anxiety, 
sickness and temptation, is specially manifested 
by a letter to his little son John,J which we 
will here copy, although it has been frequently 
published, even in school books. It may have 
an interest for some of our readers.§ 

“ Grace and peace in Christ, my dear little 
son. I am glad to hear that you learn well 
and pray diligently. Do this, my son, and 
continue: when I come home, I will bring you 
a nice little present from the fair. 

“ I know where there is a beautiful garden, 
into which many children go ; they wear little 

*De Wette, iv. 41, 42. 
f Ibid, iv. 35-38. 

J John Luther was born June 7, 1526, and died in the 
service of Duke Albert at Konigsberg, 1575. 
g-De Wette, iv. 41. 

25* 



294 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

golden coats, and gather beautiful apples under 
the trees, and pears, cherries, and plums, and 
prunes ; they sing and hop and are very gay ; 
they also have little horses with golden bridles 
and silver saddles. 

“ Then I asked the owner of the garden, 

‘ What kind of children are these ?’ And he 
said, ‘ They are of that kind who love to pray 
and learn and are good.’ 

“And then I said, ‘ My dear man, I also have 
a little son, and his name is Hans Luther; may 
he not also come into your garden and eat 
these nice apples and pears and ride such fine 
horses, and play with these children ?’ 

“ Then the man said, ‘ If he loves to pray and 
learn, and is studious and good, he may also 
come into the garden, Lippus and Just also, 
and when they have all come together, they 
shall also have whistles, drums, lutes, and all 
sorts of string instruments; they shall also 
dance and shoot with little crossbows.’ And 
he pointed to a little grass plat in the garden 
which was prepared for dancing, and there on 
the trees hung golden whistles, drums, and 
silver crossbows. But it was yet early and the 
children had not yet eaten, and hence I could 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


295 


not wait for the dancing, and said to the man, 
‘Ah, dear sir! I will go and at once write all 
about this place to my little son, that he may 
diligently pray and learn well and be good, so 
that he may also come into this garden ; but he 
has an Aunt Lehne,* whom he must bring with 
him.’ 

“ Then the man said, ‘ It shall be so ; go and 
write to him about it.’ For this reason, dear 
little son Hans, learn and pray, and tell Lippus 
and Just to do the same, and so you will all 
come into the garden. 

“ Hereby I commend you to Almighty God 
—greet Aunt Lehne, and kiss her for my 
sake.” 

A genuine model of a child-like picture, with 
a tender, paternal admonition, for which we 
are indebted to Luther’s residence at the Cita¬ 
del of Coburg. 

Although we gave above the names of some 
who visited Luther in his solitude, yet others 
deserve to be mentioned. 

Urbanus Regius, preacher at Augsburg, who 

*Probably a sister of Luther, as besides Dorothea who 
married the Steward of the Prince at Niederrossla, he had 
several other sisters. See Schwabe 4. 



296 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

suffered many troubles on account of the 
evangelical faith, visited Luther while on a 
tour to Celle. His judgment concerning 
Luther cannot well be passed over in silence: 

“ When on my way to Saxony,” says he, 
“ I spent a whole day with Luther, the man of 
God, at Coburg, and I never spent a happier 
day in my life; for Luther is such a powerful 
theologian as few have ever been upon earth. 
I had always thought much of him, but now I 
esteem him more highly than ever; I have 
myself seen and heard him, and no pen can 
describe him to those who are absent from 
him. 

“ His books show his spirit, but when you 
are present with him and see him and hear him 
talk of divine things with the spirit of an apos¬ 
tle then, you will say : 

“ It is true what men say, Luther is too great 
a man to be judged by a fault-finder; such a 
man could not comprehend him. He will 
continue to be the theologian of the whole 
world; I am sure now that I know him better 
than before I heard and saw him.”* 

In the beginning of August he was visited 


Lingke, 199. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 297 

by Caspar Aquila, Superintendent at Saalfeld, 
who was pastor at Jena, near Augsburg, in 
1516. He was on a visit to his friends and 
relatives in Augsburg during the meeting of 
the Diet. He had intercourse with distin¬ 
guished officers of State, and upon leaving 
Augsburg, he received from Melanchthon a 
letter of introduction to Luther. Melanchthon 
requested him particularly to give Luther a 
verbal report of the proceedings of the Diet. 
We may well presume, that recommended 
by so faithful a friend, he would be kindly 
received by Luther at his Patmos. 

He received a similar visit about this time 
from Caspar Muller, Councillor at Mansfeld, 
his brother Jacob, Cyriacus Kaufman, his sis¬ 
ter’s son, a citizen of Mansfeld, and the Jurist 
Peter Weller, who was the son of the theolog¬ 
ian Jerome Weller.* 

Argula von Staufen, mentioned above as a 
visitor to Luther, had been brought to an ac¬ 
knowledgment of the gospel faith by the dili¬ 
gent reading of the Scriptures and the writings 
of Luther. 


*M. Jacobi Thomasi Orationes. Lipsiae, 1683, 357. 
That he was a jurist appears from Luther’s Table Talk, 781. 



2g8 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


As early as January 18th, 1525, he wrote to 
Spalatin : “ I send you the letter of Argula, a 
disciple of Christ, that you may see and rejoice 
with the angels over the conversion of a sinful 
daughter of Adam, who has now become a 
daughter of God.”* But she was compelled 
to suffer much for her confession of the gospel, 
as appears from Luther’s own expressions. 

After she had an interview with Luther at 
Coburg, she wrote to Spalatin at Augsburg, 
encouraging him to an unshaken confidence in 
God, who would be the defender and protector 
of the righteous cause. 

The testimony which Salig bears to her in 
his History of the Augsburg Confession, is 
honorable, when he says: “ So mighty was 
this woman in the faith, so well versed in the 
Scriptures, that he who reads her letters must 
wonder how rich in consolation and edifying 
language she was above all the doctors who 
were at that time at Augsburg.” f 

* Hall, a, Thl. xxi., 1136. She descended from a family 
of distinction in Bavaria. Her letters are still extant which 
she wrote to the Duke and other Christian Powers, as also 
to the Academy of Ingolstadt. 

|Salig. Historie d. Augs. Conf. Thl., 126. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 299 

Before we see Luther departing from Co¬ 
burg, we must mention a pleasant circumstance, 
of which he was not indeed a witness, but his 
participation in it was displayed in a very in¬ 
genious manner. It is narrated by Dr. George 
Zettner* in these words: “When the sainted 
Luther was staying at the city of Coburg, and 
a wedding occurred there, to which he was in¬ 
vited but could not go, he had prepared, it is 
said, a wedding present for the new-married 
^ouple, which was a salt-cellar, made of pewter, 
in the form of a deer; he filled it with salt, 
upon which he laid a ducat, and accompanied 
it with this Christian instruction, that three 
things especially were to be experienced, an¬ 
xiety and trouble, happiness and enjoyment, 
vexation and chagrin.” 

Although he was not present at Augsburg, 
yet we must regard him as the very soul of 
the Diet. Every measure projected was re¬ 
ported to him and his advice requested. His 
decided and powerful words determined many 
a difficult point, and his keen, discriminating 
judgment removed many a hesitating doubt. 
In most cases his opinion was adopted, though 


* Leichenreden, Thl. i., 137. 



300 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

he sometimes complained of indecision on the 
part of his friends. He once wrote to Dr. 
Briick: “ I have lately seen a miracle ; I was 
looking out of the window and saw the stars in 
the heaven, and the beautiful vault of God, but 
nowhere did I see a pillar on which this vault 
was supported, and yet the heavens did not 
fall, and the vault still stands fast. Now there 
are some people who are looking for such pil¬ 
lars and are anxious to grasp and feel them, 
and because they cannot do that, they quake 
and tremble for fear that the heavens will 
break in and tumble down. The Lord increase 
your faith and that of others around you ; if 
you have that, what can the devil and all the 
world besides do ? But if we have no faith 
ourselves, why do we not at least comfort our¬ 
selves with the faith of others ? For it cannot 
be otherwise, there must be some others, who 
believe in our stead; otherwise there would 
not any longer be a church on earth.” Thus 
he looked at everything in the light of faith, 
and illustrated it in all his deeds. 

In his seclusion he did not fail to rebuke 
Melanchthon’s timidity and doubts, and to in¬ 
spire the Elector John Frederick with cour- 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


301 


age,* whilst at the same time he warned them 
against entering into any covenant with the 
Zwinglians, or, as he called the Swiss theolog¬ 
ians, the Sacramentarians. But that he would 
in the present age, under other circumstances 
and changes, resist all attempts toward recon¬ 
ciliation, and oppose fellowship in the Lord’s 
Supper, we may well doubt. In his age, the 
gulf between the two parties was constantly 
widening, and neither party knew where to find 
the true point of unity. Whether at the pres¬ 
ent time, after a more thorough investigation 
of the Scriptures, and radical changes it} the 
state of things, the men of the present age can 
assume the same exclusive position, we can 
hardly believe, heartily as we recognize Lu¬ 
ther’s doctrinal standpoint, which is supported 
by scriptural authority, and upon which he 
tried to establish the basis of union, as the 
only correct one. 

That Luther did not adhere to the mere let¬ 
ter, but sought to imbibe the spirit of the 
Scriptures, can be demonstrated by a single 
passage in relation to the Sacrament, which 
has been the subject of so much controversy 


* De Wette, iv. 6 4. 



302 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


and disaffection in the church. This sentence 
was uttered, not in the heat of controversy, 
when men sometimes express themselves 
rashly, and easily degenerate into strife about 
words,* but it was written calmly and dispas¬ 
sionately in his study. He says : 

“ Christ distinctly says, ‘ He that eateth my 
flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life.’ 
This is not spoken of as corporeal, but of spir¬ 
itual eating, as he himself explains it verse 
35 ; that is, he that believeth on me.” (W. A. 
iii., 263.) 

Another expression of his which he wrote 
about this time is to the point: “ In this state 
of dissension both parties should treat each 
other kindly (but not denounce each other as 
heretics), or when that cannot be, let each one 
pursue his own course, wishing the other well, 
as in old times when Easter was celebrated at 
different times and ways, and yet in peace and 
unity.” (W. A. xix., 556.) 

*A remark in relation to Bucer shows that he did not 
wish the discussion on the Lord's Supper to become a mere 
logomachy, “ Bucer asserts that the controversy is one of 
words only; I would cheerfully die for it, if it were so.” 
(W. A. xvii., 2429.) 

26 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


303 


Truly and wisely says Ackerman: * 

“ Let it be here observed that Luther’s per¬ 
sonal doctrine of the Lord’s Supper has more 
value and freshness than the established dogma 
of the Lutheran Church, and that is easily un¬ 
derstood, for the dogma as it is set forth in the 
System of Theology (and Text Books of the 
schools) stands before us as a cold letter, 
whereas Luther’s personal faith in the Sacra¬ 
ment speaks to us in all the warmth of a feel¬ 
ing heart.” 


DEPARTURE FROM COBURG. 

Luther watched the proceedings of the Diet 
with unspeakable anxiety and apprehension, 
and he did not promise himself any favorable 
results. 

The Elector was preparing for his departure, 
whilst Luther was expecting him at Coburg. 

Although the Electoral Prince, who came 
with Count Albert to Coburg, on September 
12th, and presented Luther with a golden 
ring, wished to take him home with him; 
yet Luther, out of regard for the Elector, 


* Luther, seinem vollen Werth und Wesen, von D. E. 
Ackerman. Jena, 1871, 99. (A very valuable book.) 





304 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


begged permission to remain and wait for him. 
On the day after the arrival of the Prince, 
Luther wrote to Melanchthon, and expressed 
his ardent desire to see him and his other col¬ 
leagues. He says: “You have done so well 
in all respects—you have acknowledged Christ, 
offered peace, rendered obedience to the Em¬ 
peror, endured trouble and injustice, witnessed 
many insults against God, and have recom¬ 
pensed evil for good. Now you should for 
once be happy in the Lord, and rejoice in his 
name, after having so long mourned in the 
world.”* 

To the same purport, he wrote to Justus 
Jonas on September 20th. 

On the evening of September 23d (1530), 
the Elector left Augsburg with some other 
princes and his theologians, and passed the 
night in a castle not far distant, belonging to 
the Burgermaster of the city, where next day 
one of his theologians preached. He arrived 
at Coburg about October 3d, where he spent at 
least a day, and resumed his journey, accom¬ 
panied by Luther, on the 5th or 6th. He 
preached every day on the way, which affords 


* Seckendorf, T. xvi. 2838. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 305 

a new proof of his untiring activity and his 
love of the gospel. 

On October 8th, they reached Altenberg. 
Mathesius, in Sermon 8, says: “ When the 
Elector passed through Coburg, he brought 
Luther, with other theologians, to Altenberg, 
where I for the first time saw this venerated 
Elector in church.” 

The theologians were entertained by Spal- 
atin and Melanchthon, who on this occasion 
composed some Latin verses during dinner on 
Sunday, and received a good-natured remon¬ 
strance from Luther, as Mathesius reports. 

It was during their halt at Altenberg that 
the well-known words were written : 

Pestis eram vivus , moriens ero mors tua , Papa. 
(Living I was your plague, dying I will be 
your death, O pope ! 

On October ioth, they reached Grimma, and 
on the same day proceeded as far as Torgau, 
where Luther preached the following Sunday. 

He arrived at Wittenberg about the middle 
of the month, and he immediately encountered 
vexations arising out of some disorders which 
were practiced during his absence.* 


* De Wettej iv. 182. 


U 



3 o6 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


In a letter to the Elector of October 30th, he 
says: 

I have commended the cause to my God; 
it was he who began it I know, and that he 
will carry it out I believe. It is not in the 
power of man to conceive and deliver such 
doctrine. Then, as it is God’s work, and not 
within our skill and ability, but in his hand al¬ 
together, then I would like to see who those 
are, who will defy and bully God himself! It 
is written, ‘ Bloody and deceitful men shall 
not live half their days.’ Let them threaten 
and attack us, but to accomplish their pur¬ 
poses is a different thing. May Christ our 
Lord strengthen your Grace in steadfast and 
hopeful spirit. Amen.” 

Such a strong confidence in God in the midst 
of temptations and hindrances, with which the 
gospel must contend, must fill the soul with 
rich consolation and impart a courage which 
fears no influence of the world or of the king¬ 
dom of darkness. 



CHAPTER VI. 

JOURNEYS , INCLUDING THAT TO SCHMAL- 
KALDEN, E TC. 1531-1537. 

JOURNEYS TO TORGAU, LOCHAU (ANNABERG), 
KEMBERG, TORGAU, AND PRETZSCH. 

UTHER was again at Wittenberg. Seri- 



JLv ous as were the troubles of the times, 
yet the progress which the gospel made in Lii- 
beck, Bremen, Strasburg, and other places, was 
cheering. 

Whilst he was performing his ordinary du¬ 
ties in Wittenberg, he was still extending rich 
blessings in places beyond his prescribed limits 
of activity. 

He wrote various letters, having special refer¬ 
ence to the different opinions prevailing in Stras¬ 
burg, Constance, Lindau, and Memmingen.* 

As he had explained the true gospel in the 


* De Wette, iv. 216. 


(307) 











308 journeys of luther. 

language of the people in the Catechism, and 
thus introduced it among them, he also aimed 
at declaring it to the assembled congregation 
by preaching, which he did whenever an op¬ 
portunity was offered. 

This was gratifying to the Elector, and 
hence he frequently summoned him to preach, 
as we have seen during the journey to and 
from Coburg. 

So it was also now: on May 31, 1531, he 
received a summons from the Elector to preach 
at Torgau on the following day, in the presence 
of Duke Henry of Saxony, which duty he per¬ 
formed to the great satisfaction of his hearers. 

In the midst of his numerous engagements, 
cares and vexations, he yet always cherished 
the warmest affection for his friends, in whose 
company, if even for a short time, he sought 
relaxation from his anxieties and business. 

In June or July he informed his friend, 
Michael Stiefel, pastor at Lochau, that he 
would soon visit him and bring with him some 
cherry-loving boys (Kerasophilis pueris). 

He wrote to Stephen Roth, Council Secre¬ 
tary at Zwickau, censuring the conduct of the 
people towards their pastor, Soreanus, whom, 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


309 


it was alleged, they had expelled from the 
church without a hearing. Roth replies, deny¬ 
ing the charge and vindicating the congrega¬ 
tion. He begs Luther to withdraw his hasty 
judgment and his threat of publishing an 
account of the maladministration of the church 
property by the council, and strenuously main¬ 
tains that the council acted perfectly right, 
whilst the preachers indulged in all sorts of 
opprobious language against them.* 

As they also presented their complaints to 
the Electoral Court, Luther was so incensed, 
that, partly unopened and partly unread, he 
sent the letter back,f and thus expressed him¬ 
self concerning the people of Zwickau : 

“ The conduct of these stupid madmen has 
displeased me to such a degree that henceforth 
I will not regard them as worthy of a word or 
a line.” 

Under these circumstances it was thought 
best by the Elector to summon Luther, Jonas 
and Melanchthon to Torgau. 

Several delegates from the Zwickau Council 
were also present. 


*Burkhardt, 189-90. 
f Hall, a, Thl. xxi. 1227. 



3io 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


Luther had proposed to Nicolas Hausman 
to leave Zwickau for some time under the 
present condition of things, whilst in a letter 
of July io, he encourages Conrad Corvatus, 
who remained in Zwickau after Hausman had 
left. He urged him only to hold out until the 
Elector had made his decision.* 

The result of the whole deliberation by both 
parties, was that Hausman and Corvatus should 
both leave Zwickau, and by this measure 
peace might be restored. 

Luther offered Hausman a home in his 
house, but he went to his brother Valentine at 
Freiberg, where he remained for some time. 
Luther, who always deeply sympathized with 
afflicted and forsaken brethren, furnished him 
with a letter of recommendation (September 14, 
1532,) to John and Joachim, princes of Anhalt, 
and solicited them to appoint him to a pastor¬ 
ate in Dessau. He gave him the honorable 
testimony: “ He is an upright and honest 
man, who loves and teaches the word of God 
constantly and faithfully.” f 

He was afterwards called from Dessau by 


*De Wette, iv. 274. 
f Ibid, iv. 312. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 3II 

the Elector and Duke Henry to Freiberg, his 
native place, but he could not accept the posi¬ 
tion because he was attacked with apoplexy. 
He soon afterwards died, and Luther was 
exceedingly grieved. 

Corvatus became pastor at Rimeck, and was 
transferred to Mark Brandenburg in 1540, after 
he had received the degree of Doctor of The¬ 
ology, upon the recommendation of Luther, 
Bugenhagen and Melanchthon. 

In August, Luther preached at Kemberg and 
Torgau in October. 

In December of this year he made a brief 
visit, on account of his health, to Marshal 
Hans von Loser, at Pretzsch, who esteemed 
him very highly. It is reported that on this 
occasion he was present at a chase. But that 
he took as little pleasure here in such sports 
as at the Wartburg, is shown from the fact 
that during the chase he conceived his medita¬ 
tion on Ps. cxlvii., which he wrote out upon his 
return, and dedicated to Von Loser. It was 
to him also that he dedicated the exposi¬ 
tion of ch. vii. of I Cor. 

JOURNEY TO TORGAU AND PRETZSCH. 15 32. 

Luther was called upon to suffer a painful 


312 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


solicitude during this year. For some months 
the noble Elector John, who had always felt 
such a deep religious concern in the welfare of 
the evangelical church, had suffered from a 
malady in his feet, which resulted in the neces¬ 
sity of amputation. 

This occasion called Luther to Torgau, 
to afford spiritual consolation to the noble suf¬ 
ferer. He wrote to Veit Dietrich, requesting 
him to offer prayers of intercession for the sick 
Elector, and complains of being unwell him¬ 
self, and much concerned with thoughts of 
dying. In another letter, to his wife, he ex¬ 
presses the hope of soon returning with Dr. 
Bruck. 

“ His princely Grace,” says he, “ as far as his 
body is concerned, is as well as a fish, but the 
devil has bit him in the foot. Pray, pray for 
him ! I hope God will hear us, for Dr. Caspar 
says that it is a case in which God alone can 
help.”* 

It is affecting to hear Luther’s kind interest, 
whilst he was grieving and praying at the sick¬ 
bed of the Elector, in the welfare of his servant 
John Rischman, who was about to leave him. 


* De Wette, iv. 340-43. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 3 I 3 

“ As John,” he writes to his wife, “ is going 
to leave my service, it is proper that I allow 
him to depart creditably, and with some tokens 
of my regard. You know he served us hon¬ 
estly and diligently, that he was a faithful be¬ 
liever in the gospel, and discharged his duties 
in all respects. Think how often we have 
given presents to unworthy fellows and un¬ 
grateful students, and every thing was lost 
upon them; now, do your utmost, and do not 
let such a pious man want, for you know that 
this is becoming to us and pleasing to God. I 
well know that we have but little, but I would 
freely give him ten guilders if I had them; 
but you must not give him less than five, for 
he will need that to buy some clothes, etc. 
Do not fail as long as we have a cup. Think 
where you got it. God will give you 'another. 
I commend you to God. Amen.” 

Thus also he requests her to bestow hospi¬ 
tality upon Nicolas Hausman, who was driven 
away from Zwickau. These are beautiful 
traits of a noble, sympathetic heart, which we 
could not pass by on this occasion. 

After he had written this letter, he was the 
guest with Miihlfurt, probably the Burgermas- 
27 


314 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

ter of Zwickau, at the house of the prince’s 
chamberlain, Herr von Riedesel, who was also 
one of his godfathers. 

In the middle of May, he went to Torgau 
again with Bugenhagen, the special occasion 
of which we do not know; but most probably 
on account of various reports, made partly by 
Luther himself, and partly in connection with 
Bugenhagen. In his, the subject of confis¬ 
cating the property of the monastery was 
treated, and the other related to the convent at 
Schweinfurt,* where the point of contention 
was whether those also should enjoy the priv¬ 
ileges of the “ Religious Peace,” if they would 
thereafter adopt the Augsburg Confession. 
The Hessian theologians voted for it ; quite 
unexpectedly, Luther opposed it.f To speak 
candidly, this was a narrow view of the subject 
on his part, for even upon the standpoint of 
those times, a more generous judgment could 
have been justified. But we may wonder the 
less on the subject, for in our own times those 
are denied fraternal or sacramental fellowship 
who have adopted the Augsburg Confession 


*De Wette, iv. 365, 369. 
f Seckendorf, U. iii. 59. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 315 

with us, if they still retain the name of Re¬ 
formed congregations. 

About this time, Luther accepted an invita¬ 
tion from Marshal Hans von Loser, in 
Pretzsch, to become the godfather of his infant 
son. Luther was one of the fifty-four god¬ 
fathers who were selected for this service. 

JOURNEYS TO TORGAU AND SCHWEINITZ. 15 32. 

As at Schweinfurt, the subject of the “ Re¬ 
ligious Peace” at Nurnberg, gave occasion to a 
general consultation of the Elector with Lu¬ 
ther, Jonas and Bugenhagen. 

From a letter of his to the Elector (June 
29),* it appears that the peace transactions at 
Nurnberg were obstructed by the Hessian 
theologians. Luther entreats the Elector to 
persevere to the end. 

The Elector was desirous of having a per¬ 
sonal interview on the subject with the theolo¬ 
gians named above, and summoned them to 
Torgau. 

They remained there until July 28, after 
having deliberated upon other subjects besides 
the principal one which occasioned the call. 


* De Wette, iv. 29 . 




3 l6 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

Lingke (214) gives us a brief report from the 
Colloq. Lutheri, T. i. 168, which we here quote 
for its remarkable character, for it furnishes 
some important characteristic traits of John 
and of John Frederick. 

“On July 28, (1532), Luther again came to 
Torgau, and among other things, spoke of the 
patience and forbearance of the old lord (the 
Elector John), who did not allow himself to be 
affected by the disobedience of his subjects, 
but hoped and waited all the time, that they 
might reform and become pious. ‘ That,’ said 
Luther, ‘ happened because he had been so in¬ 
structed and persuaded by preachers, for from 
his youth he had heard the monks, his con¬ 
fessors, who said, a prince must not be pas¬ 
sionate, but merciful and patient.’ 

“ This he cannot lay aside, because he was 
thus taught from his childhood, just as I can¬ 
not entirely lay aside and forget my monkery. 

“ After that, he said that M. Lucas Eden- 
berger,* the preceptor of Duke Hans Ernst of 
Saxony, was in high favor with Prince Hans 

* Luther made the acquaintance of this man in the Con¬ 
vent at Erfurt, and proposed him as Professor of Hebrew in 
1543 - 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 317 

Frederick, for when he was about to take his 
leave, the young Duke Frederick said, ‘ I am 
very well satisfied with that preceptor.’ 

“ O that I had had such a teacher ! he would 
not have worked with me in vain; if they had 
let me keep Spalatin,* there would have been 
no difficulty—but M. Colditius deserved no 
credit on my account.” f 

A sad event called Luther to Schweinitz in 
August. The Elector who with his own 
hand had informed him of his improvement in 
health, had gone upon the chase to that place, 
on which the two princesses and his wife had 
accompanied him for some distance. 

As no game was seen, the Elector said, “ the 
game will no longer recognize me as its mas¬ 
ter ; I have a presentiment that soon it will also 
be all over with me.” 

His presentiment was also fulfilled. On 
Thursday, August 15, he was attacked with 
violent pains in the head, which endured 

* Pastor at Hohenkirchen in Thuringia, and preceptor of 
the neighboring convent of Georgenthal—became court 
chaplain, in 1509 of Prince John George, and in 1511, tutor 
of the Dukes of Brunswick—Luneburg, Otto and Ernst, 
f Luther’s Table Talk, 743. 

27* 



31 8 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

several hours, and resulted in a stroke of 
paralysis. 

How deeply he was concerned just before 
the end of his life in the work of visitation is 
apparent from a letter which he wrote in the 
beginning of August to Luther, Jonas, Me- 
lanchthon and Pauli in Wittenberg,* and in 
which he gave further specific direction for the 
prosecution of the work. 

What could not be accomplished during his 
life-time was done the following year under 
the government of his son John Frederick. 

Luther was suddenly called to Schweinitz 
by the melancholy event of the Elector’s sick¬ 
ness. 

On August 16, at 5 a. m., he set out from 
Wittenberg, accompanied by Melanchthon and 
the physician, Augustin Schurf, and arrived at 
Schweinitz at 10 o’clock that night. 

Although the Elector at Luther’s arrival 
lifted up both hands, he let them fall from 
weakness, and soon gave up his spirit, so that 
the minister so anxiously longed for, could 
render no religious service. None of his chil¬ 
dren were present at his death. 


* Burkhardt, 206. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 319 

He was buried in the Castle church at Wit¬ 
tenberg ; Luther preached the funeral sermon, 
and Melanchthon also delivered a discourse. 

Luther pronounced a high eulogy on him, 
and among other things said : 

“ Our dear Elector was a very pious, kindly 
disposed man, without any guile, and in all my 
life I have never seen him show any evidences 
of pride, anger or envy—he endured everything 
gently, and knew how to forgive his enemies; 
indeed, he was much too gentle. 

“A prince is also a man and always has ten 
devils about him, where an ordinary man has 
but one, so that God must specially lead him 
and give his angels charge over him (W. A. 
xii. 2639).” 

His son, John Frederick, the magnanimous, 
succeeded him, who was born June 30, 1503, 
and, on June 2, 1527, married Sybilla, Duchess 
of Julich. 

JOURNEYS TO TORGAU AND WORLITZ. 

Luther was soon after again called to Tor- 
gau, where he preached before the new Elec¬ 
tor, John Frederick, in August. On the 
following daj^ the last will and testament of 
his deceased father was read at the castle. 


320 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


In November following, we find Luther at 
Worlitz, where he preached in the presence of 
the princely court of Anhalt and other persons 
of high rank. He had been invited to this 
place by the princes of Anhalt, John Joachim 
and George, together with C. Carlomitz, 
Melanchthon, and Cruciger. The latter, who 
had great facility in writing down a speaker’s 
words, reported Luther’s sermon “The whole 
duty of the Christian life,” which was soon 
afterwards printed. He spoke of the kind 
treatment he received from these “ much be¬ 
loved princes ” in exalted terms in a letter to 
Nicolas Hausman. 

Luther was always ready to impart good 
counsel to all who desired it, as well as to inter¬ 
cede in behalf of the unfortunate or needy. He 
had an opportunity of displaying this generous 
feature of his character soon after his return in 
behalf of the widow of the Provost at Dessau. 
He wrote to prince John of Anhalt concerning 
the affair, which related to an inheritance, and 
no doubt his intercession was successful. 

Of these men he says; “ They have wis¬ 
dom, heart and happiness, and know how to 
rule without the rod.” 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


321 


Thus also he speaks of them to Melanchthou 
and Cruciger. He represents them as “ fine, 
apt, well-educated men; reserved in word and 
act, faithful and modest as women, well ac¬ 
quainted with the Latin language, familiar 
with the Bible, in which they far exceed all 
papists. Indeed/' says he, “ I had quite a the¬ 
ological fertival with them. In one word, they 
were pious, God-fearing, sensible, ageeable 
men, who doubtless will lay up a treasure in 
heaven, if they persevere in the doctrine of the 
gospel* Hence it was very natural that he 
should recommend to them Nicolas Hausman, 
as a preacher “ who was faithful and constant, 
and loving the Word of God with all his 
heart/’f 

JOURNEYS TO SCHLIEBEN AND TORGAU. 1533 - 

Visitation Tours. 

The work of Reformation had made happy 
progress in the Duchy of Anhalt, to which 
Luther himself contributed by his presence 
and preaching, of which he speaks in cheerful 

* Table Talk, 754. 
f De Wette, iv. 440. 

V 



322 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


mood in a letter to Prince George of Anhalt. 
On the same day, he writes to Prince Joachim 
of Anhalt, admonishing him to hold fast to the 
cause of the Reformation, in which it was 
thought, that through the influence of other 
princes, his confidence had been shaken. 

With his usual freedom of speech, and in 
very decided and impressive words, he thus 
speaks: 

“ If now all prophets, apostles, churches or 
councils oppose Christ, surely Christ, who 
possesses the Holy Ghost without measure, 
and even bestows him upon men, must be of 
rr^ore power and consequence than his saints, 
who so far unlike and beneath him, do not 
give the Holy Ghost, but must in part receive 
him. Hence I pray the Father of all mercy 
that he would teach your Highness this one 
point, and that you may well consider that 
Christ and his Word are higher, greater, 
stronger and surer than a hundred thousand 
fathers, councils, churches, etc., etc., for in the 
Scriptures they are all called sinners and wan¬ 
dering sheep.” 

Could Luther speak more truly and more 
distinctly against the modern papal doctrine of 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 323 

the infallibility of the pope than he spoke in 
the presence of a prince in a few words ? 

The arrangements which the Elector John 
adopted and ordered in relation to visitation 
shortly before his death, were fully carried out 
by his son, John Frederick. 

One of the provisions of this arrangement 
was, that those who would not receive the 
Lord’s Supper “in both kinds” should not be 
allowed to become sponsors at baptism. 

Various reforms were introduced by this 
agency in the churches. In 1533, the mass was 
abolished in Lucca and the school furnished 
with a more competent rector, and this was done 
by Luther’s advice and during his presence. 

As the Reformation work especially required 
the instrumentality of preaching, he took every 
opportunity of promoting the cause of the 
evangelical faith by delivering stirring and in¬ 
structive sermons. 

In this year, he also preached several times 
in the presence of the Elector at Torgau, as he 
had done for his father before him. 

Wherever he went, his counsel was solicited, 
and he scattered blessings throughout the 
country. 


324 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

JOURNEYS TO TORGAU, WEIMAR, DESSAU (TWICE), 
AND TORGAU AGAIN. I 5 34 AND I 5 3 5. 

Luther was not only solicitous about the 
welfare of the Evangelical church as a whole, 
but he bestowed much painful attention to 
the wants of the people, and thus to the inter¬ 
est of each individual. He never neglected 
any opportunity of rendering service by word 
or deed to every one who applied to him, and 
to numbers who made no special application. 

A private affair called him again to Torgau 
in 1534. He was upon very intimate terms 
with a family of distinction named Schneide- 
wein in that city. John Schneidewein, a son 
of the steward of Count von Stollberg, was, in 
the eleventh year of his age, placed in Luther’s 
house, so that he might have Luther’s amanu¬ 
ensis, Veit Dietrich, as his tutor. As the 
brother of this lad wished to be introduced to 
the Electoral Court, he begged Luther to do 
him that favor, and he traveled with him in 
company with Melanchthon to Torgau. 

They met with a very gracious reception, 
and he returned to Wittenberg the following 
day. His introduction of this man had for 
him a happy issue, for after several years he 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 325 

was appointed to the office of Councillor at 
Torgau and Weimar. 

That Luther stood in high favor with the 
Elector is evident from the fact that he was 
consulted not only in spiritual but also in civil 
affairs. In 1534, he was summoned to Wei¬ 
mar to give his advice in the following affair: 
The Landgrave Philip of Hesse had arrived 
at the Electoral Court to secure the coopera¬ 
tion of the Elector in a belligerent attempt he 
was about making to restore Duke Ulrich of 
Wurtemberg to his possessions; but he felt it 
necessary to consult the Elector and gain his 
acquiescence, because he feared that such an 
enterprise, although it had no reference to re¬ 
ligion, would not be sanctioned by the Protest¬ 
ant States. 

The Elector, in order to dissuade the Land¬ 
grave from violent measures, invited Luther 
with Melanchthon to Weimar, to hear the 
opinion of these wise and judicious men. Lu¬ 
ther thus speaks of that consultation: 

“ I and Philip were called to Weimar to 
meet his Grace, the Landgrave of Hesse, and 
when our opinion was asked about his contem¬ 
plated war, we most earnestly advised against 


326 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

it, and employed our best rhetoric, and begged 
not to overturn the gospel by this war, or to 
bring disgrace upon our teaching and princi¬ 
ples, or to interrupt the peace of the country. 
Upon this, his Grace flared up and became en¬ 
raged, though usually he is a man of even 
temper.” * This is another proof that Luther 
did not sanction the use of the sword in fur¬ 
thering the Reformation, although this was a 
very different affair. 

The Landgrave was not deterred from his 
purpose by Luther’s opinion, but marched to 
Wurtemburg at the head of an army and re¬ 
stored Duke Ulrich to his rights, who had fled 
to a foreign country, and after a banishment of 
fifteen years had found a place of refuge with 
the Landgrave Philip.f 

In his Table Talk, Luther thus expresses 
himself on the subject: “ It was a terrible 

risk.and no discreet man would have 

ventured upon it; but when it was begun, he 
went to work wisely and energetically.” 

Luther was not less a favorite with the 
Princes of Anhalt, which is shown not only by 


* Table Talk, 753. 
f Lindner, Leben Luther’s, 588-91. 




JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 327 

the numerous letters written to them, but also 
by the frequent invitations from the Princes to 
him. 

In this year, he traveled twice to Dessau, 
once alone, and the second time with Me- 
lanchthon and Cruciger. 

The first time he visited Prince Joachim in 
in his sickness. On his return, he wrote to 
the Prince letters full of the most consoling 
and inspiring words, and toward the end of the 
last one, he says : “ I will come again myself 
(hoc est certurri) unless I am dead or prostrated 
as soon as I can tear myself loose from the 
whip, bridle, saddle, and spurs of the printer.*” 

This year, 1535, he suffered much from sick¬ 
ness, and seemed to feel that his end was ap¬ 
proaching. Hence, we can easily understand 
why we see him at Torgau but once on a 
friendly visit to Gabriel Didymus, who was Su¬ 
perintendent at that place. 

Perhaps also the unbecoming conduct of the 
Council towards Didymus may also have de¬ 
termined him to go there. At least, we can so 
judge from a letter which Luther wrote to 
Didymus on September 30. He says: “ I 


* De Wette, iv. 541. 



328 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


must come and scratch the bristles of that por¬ 
cine animal on the pulpit.* 

Although Didymus had previously occa¬ 
sioned him many painful hours, yet the noble 
Luther soul had forgotten everything, and did 
all in his power to reconcile the pastor and the 
flock, and to make the ministry of Didymus 
successful. 

Luther was summoned by the Elector to an 
interview with the English Commissioners at 
Jena, in December of this year, but Melanch- 
thon was subsequently appointed his substi¬ 
tute.! 

JOURNEYS TO TORGAU, EULENBERG, TORGAU AND 
LOCHAU. 1 5 36. 

This was a year of anxieties to our hero. 

The Reformed Imperial States, at the head 
of which was Strassburg, had presented a Con¬ 
fession of their own at Augsburg. As it was, 
however, not received, they consented to sub¬ 
scribe the Augsburg Confession, with the un¬ 
derstanding that they might interpret the arti- 

* De Wette, iv. 625. 

f [See my Augsburg Confession and the 39 Articles, p. 2 t 
Tr.]—also Burkhardt, 242, 243. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 329 

cle on the sacrament according to their own 
views. 

The Landgrave Philip of Hesse and Burer 
were untiring in their efforts to have the diffi¬ 
culty settled. After various interviews, the 
Wittenberg Concord at last came into being. 
The Reformed adopted the doctrine of the 
sacrament essentially. The gratification at this 
union was mutually great; they pledged each 
other that the difference should not again be 
agitated, and Luther in a letter to the Swiss 
expressed the confident hope that the wound 
would be gradually healed, and that they 
might expect that he also would make every 
effort to promote the incipient harmony. 

After the lapse of nearly three hundred and 
fifty years, has not the time finally arrived 
when agreeably to Luther’s own wish, there 
should be one communion of brethren built 
upon the foundation of the gospel, Jesus Christ 
being the Head. Should we any longer, by 
useless controversies and narrow adherence to 
the letter, repress the spirit, which is a spirit 
of reconciliation and love, and which finds the 
strongest and best basis of unity in faith in the 
grace that has been manifested in Christ , which 
28* 


330 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


is offered to us under the visible signs of bread 
and wine, even if the mode is incomprehensible. 
Shortly before this, Luther said, “ If this (Wit¬ 
tenberg) i Concord’ is adopted, I will sing with 
tears of joy, ‘ Lord, now lettest thou thy ser¬ 
vant depart in peace!”’ But this unity did not 
endure long. 

At this time, when Lutherans and Zwing- 
lians extended to each other the hand in the 
Wittenberg Concord, Luther was called to 
Torgau by a happy circumstance. 

Philip I., Duke of Pomerania, who was a 
friend of the Reformation, and exerted himself 
to promote it in Pomerania through the 
agency of Bugenhagen, had selected the sister 
of the Elector John Frederick as his wife. 

The Elector sent Prince Wolfgang of Anhalt 
and Hans von Pagk, a civil officer at Grimma, 
on January 7, 1536, to Wolgart, to conclude 
the marital negotiation. 

The marriage was celebrated on February 
27 at Torgau, to which Luther and Bugen¬ 
hagen were invited. 

After Luther had preached on that day be¬ 
fore the Electoral Court, the wedding service 
was performed by him at the castle. Bugen- 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


331 


hagen preached what was called the Consecra¬ 
tion Sermon the next day, because Luther 
in the meantime had a serious attack of ver¬ 
tigo. 

Even such apparently unimportant events, 
which in themselves had no reference to the 
Reformation, were yet employed by Providence 
to awaken an evangelical spirit, and to multi¬ 
ply the friends of the gospel. 

A similar circumstance led him in this year 
to Eilenburg, where he performed the conse¬ 
cration service of his friend Caspar Cruciger’s 
marriage. 

The Town Record gives the following ac¬ 
count of this affair: 

u In the year 1536, M. Caspar Cruciger was 
married at the castle at Eilenburg to the 
daughter of Herr Kiichenmeister, of Leipzig. 
Dr. Martin Luther and the Rector Magnificus 
at Wittenberg, Justus Jonas and John Pommer 
(Bugenhagen) were present. These three doc¬ 
tors preached, two of them in the church on 
the hill on Sunday, and the other on Monday.” 

Luther’s sermon was printed. 

In September he was again summoned to 
Torgau to preach, and subsequently went with 


332 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


Jonas to Lochau on private business, the 
nature of which we do not know. 

TO SCHMALKALDEN. 1537 - 

Although there was no sincerity in the 
measure, yet Paul III. issued a bull on June 2, 
1536, ordering a Council in Mantua for May 
23, 1537, “for the purpose of not only eradi¬ 
cating all heresy and error from the vineyard 
of the Lord by sacred and effectual means, and 
improving the morals of Christendom, but also 
of establishing among Christians universal 
peace and unity, and by a general army under 
the standard of the holy cross, against unbe¬ 
lievers, to reconquer our kingdom and country, 
etc. Upon this, Luther, with his colleagues, 
gave his opinion, which was replied to by the 
opposite party.* 

The Protestant States felt themselves bound 
to call a meeting upon this subject in Schmal- 
kald, on January 7, 1537. 

By a wise foresight of the Elector, Luther 
was directed to prepare certain articles on the 
evangelical truth, upon which they would take 
their decided stand in opposition to the papists. 

* Meurers’ Life of Luther. 


/ 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 333 

Spalatin reports upon the execution of this 
order thus: “At Christmas, 1536, by the gra¬ 
cious order of Duke John Frederick, Elector 
of Saxony, there met together at Wittenberg, 
Dr. Martinus Luther, D. Justus Jonas, D. Cas¬ 
par Cruciger, D. John Bugenhagen, Lie. Nico¬ 
las Amsdorf, Philip Melanchthon, John Agri¬ 
cola, of Eisleben, and J. G. Spalatinus, and com¬ 
pared views, and we all subscribed twenty-one 
principal articles of the Christian faith, which D. 
Martin Luther drew up in the clearest and most 
Christian style, which were then all read over 
again and discussed, and adopted one after the 
other.”* 

Luther was compelled, on account of an at¬ 
tack of weakness, to work with the theologians 
several days on these articles, though he had 
hoped to finish the task in one day. 

He sent these articles, after they had been 
subscribed by all, through Spalatin to the 
Elector on January 3, 1537, who, in a letter of 
January 7, expressed his complete satisfaction 
with them.f 

The Elector expresses his thanks to God for 


* Lingke, 231. Spalatin’s Annalen, 307. 
f Seckendorf, 1590. 



334 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


giving Luther the strength to compose these 
articles so purely, correctly, and in such a Chris¬ 
tian spirit, and that his colleagues had given 
their entire acquiescence. He had read the arti¬ 
cles twice, and although but a layman, he was 
profoundly convinced that they were true, and 
completely harmonized with the Augsburg Con¬ 
fession, so that it was not necessary to take 
counsel of any one else, but that he, the Elec¬ 
tor, would acknowledge them, no matter where 
it was, before the Council and the whole world. 

“ As to the risk and peril,” he added, “ to 
which our land and people or persons may be 
exposed on account of them, we will leave that 
to God. He has numbered the hairs of our 
head, not one of which will fall without his will, 
and he will also so control all danger arising 
out of this Confession, that we can safely com¬ 
mend ourselves and children and country and 
people to his divine protection. He has chosen 
us to the office of Elector, and if it is his pur¬ 
pose, he will maintain us in it, and if it is not 
his will, all anxiety of danger will be of no 
avail, for he will do what seems good to him, 
and to your prayers and to those of all Chris¬ 
tians, we commend the good cause.” 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


335 


On December 31, 1536, he sent a special in¬ 
vitation to Luther, Bugenhagen and Melanch- 
thon, to a convention at Schmalkald. 

A similar invitation was given to B. Pauli 
and Pleickart Sindringer as jurists.* 

On February 1, notwithstanding the cold¬ 
ness of the weather and his severe sufferings 
from calculus , they repaired to Schmalkald, in 
obedience to the Elector's command. 

The first day they reached Altenberg, where 
they were hospitably entertained at the Ducal 
castle. In the expectation of being kindly re¬ 
ceived and entertained by his friend Spalatin, 
he here wrote some Latin verses to him, of 
which we will give a free translation.f 

“ George, as thy acts are most pleasing to Christ, 

So let this wandering tribe be to thee; 

We journey to famous Smalcald to-day, 

But the cause of God impels us on our way, 

Thou, man of God, the wisest of us all, 

Go with us, and be our leader and guide.” 

* Burkhardt, 272, 273. 

f Ut tua christo gratissima facta, Georgi, 

Sic sit grata cohors haec peregrina tibi, 

Tendimus ad celebrem pro nostra Chalcida coetu, 
Magna Dei cogit causa per istud iter, 

Tu quoque nostrorum pars magna, vir optime, rerum. 
Nobiscum venies, dux que comesque vitae. 



336 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


Spalatin joined the company, which pro¬ 
ceeded to Weimar, where they met the 
Elector, who, however, remained there only 
one day, as he wanted to be in Schmalkald in 
good time, and besides he did not wish to 
enter into any explanation with the papal 
nuntio, and avoided him. 

On February 4, Luther preached in the 
presence of the retinue of the papal nuntio, 
Father Borstius, Bishop of Aix, in which he 
bitterly complained that the papal princes and 
bishops hated the evangelical party worse than 
they did the Turks, whom they allowed to 
rave unmolested. 

On the following Monday, February 5, the 
Elector left Weimar, after having let the nuntio 
know that he intended to refer his affair to the 
whole convention at Schmalkald. 

Luther also left on the same day, and pro¬ 
ceeded by way of Weimar, and on the 7th he 
reached Schmalkald. On the next day, the 
Landgrave and Duke of Wurtemberg made 
their entrance. 

On February 9, Luther preached before the 
princes in the large and lofty cathedral, “in 
which,” he says, “ that his as well as Spalatin’s 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 337 

voice, who had preached the day before, 
sounded like that of a shrew mouse.” 

On the same day he wrote to Jonas upon the 
subject of the convention and the state of his 
health. 

The place and the atmosphere were very fav¬ 
orable to his physical condition, and he felt well 
the few first days, and rejoiced at meeting so 
many excellent and learned men, such as would 
not be found at Mantua, even if there should 
be there more asses and mules and horses; but 
in a letter of the 14th, he complains to the same 
friends that he has already been here eight 
days, and is getting weary and wants to go 
home. The Princes and States were transact¬ 
ing other business than that which they had 
expected, and without the help of the theologi¬ 
ans ; but may Christ bless their deliberations.* 

He expressed a special opinion upon this 
Council (at Mantua), in which he doubts 
whether it will ever be held, and says among 
other things : “ The Roman scamps knew well 
enough the condition of affairs between the 
Turks and the French, and for that reason ap¬ 
pointed the Council in this year, so that, what 


*De Wette, iv. 49-51. 
29 


W 



338 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


the Lutherans did not prevent, the Turks and 
French would be compelled to prevent.” But 
still he advised that the Council should be at¬ 
tended, so that at it the pope might be well 
chastised and humbled. 

By order of the Elector, he prepared a 
series of Articles, which, in the event of the 
meeting of a Council, might be laid before it as 
a basis of business to be discussed. These 
were the well-known Smalkald Articles, which 
are written entirely in the spirit of Luther, 
but full of violent attacks on the pope and 
his usurped authority, and of severe censure of 
the papal tyranny and the abuses of the Rom¬ 
ish church. Ackerman * truly says : “ In his 
assaults upon Rome, and in his controversies 
generally, Luther resembled a volcano. He 
belched out not only fire and flames, but mud 
and ashes. This must be conceded, yea, in the 
name of truth and honor, it must be candidly 
spoken and maintained.” 

But we will more kindly judge him, without 
justifying his excessive violence, if we reflect 
that Luther planted himself upon the basis of 
the Holy Scriptures, and hence could no 


* Luther u. Seinem vollen Werth. etc., Jena, 1871. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


339 


longer go with a Church which departed from 
the Scriptures and would know nothing of a 
reformation in its head and members, even 
though such a desire and intent were some¬ 
times expressed. 

How dear the peace of the Evangelical 
Church lay near his heart, is apparent from a 
letter which he wrote at Schmalkald, on Feb¬ 
ruary 17th, to Jacob Mayer, Burgermaster of 
Basel, in which he speaks of the manner in 
which his own writings and those of others 
were received, and regarded this as a sign 
that people were industrious and earnest in 
promoting the gospel. He adds the wish, 
“ May God the Almighty continue to give us 
grace, that we may all be one in doctrine and 
opinion, and live in undisturbed unity and con¬ 
cord, as St. Paul says: ‘ That we may all honor 
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, with 
one mouth and heart, forgiving and forbearing, 
as God the Father forgives and bears with us.’ ” 

As early as February 14th, he complains of 
calculus, and his condition became more and 
more critical, for he was scarcely ever well 
three days together. 

This was the reason why the imperial orator, 


340 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


Matthew Held, could not deliver his discourse 
before the assembled Princes and States until 
February 15 th. 

On February 17th, Luther could leave the 
house for the first time after a severe attack, 
and on the following day preached a sermon in 
which he contrasts the ridiculous pretentious, 
and unmeaning fasts of the papists with the 
true Christian fasts. The fast of the papist is 
sorrow and suffering, and self-imposed mortifi¬ 
cation ; that of the Christian is voluntary ab¬ 
stinence and humiliation for the suppression 
of the lusts of the flesh. 

After he had preached before an immense 
audience, he was seized with such excruciating 
pains as he had never experienced before, so 
that he looked forward to his death, and said : 
“ Lord God, behold I am dying, an enemy of 
thy enemies, accursed and excommunicated by 
thy foe and antichrist, the pope, so that thy 
enemy may die accursed of thee, and both of 
us be judged on the last day: thy foe and anti¬ 
christ to eternal misery and pain ; but I, thy 
poor servant, who openly confessed thy name 
and majesty, to everlasting glory and honor.” 

On another day, he preached in the house 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


341 


of the Elector’s steward. Andrew Osiander 
and Nicolas Amsdorf also delivered public dis¬ 
courses. When Urbanus Regius also rose and 
preached too long, Luther said to him on de¬ 
scending from the pulpit, punning on his 
name, “ That was neither urbane nor regal! ” 

He was very fearful that God intended to 
remove him out of this world away from 
home, but he finally overcame this painful anx¬ 
iety and temptation, became contented, and 
said, “ I commend myself to thee, thou faithful 
God ; I will willingly die when and where and 
how it seems good to thee. For thy will is al¬ 
ways the best.” 

Scarcely had Luther thus commended him¬ 
self into the hands of God, when the Elector 
of Saxony, John Frederick, entered the sick- 
chamber. With a heart overflowing with ten- 
derest sympathy, he comforted the sufferer 
with these words : 

“ Our dear Lord God will be gracious to us 
for his Word’s and his name’s sake and will, 
dear father, prolong your life.” Then he 
turned away from him, for he was so deeply 
moved that he could say no more. 

Luther encouraged those around him, Me- 
29* 


342 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


lanchthon and other friends, that they would 
heartily pray against the powerful prince of 
this world, and said there was no power or 
agency so strong as fervent prayer. Of his 
sickness he said, after having spoken of the joy 
which his death would give to the papal legates 
and the bishops, “ Yes, this is the old Adam 
that still clings to me, and whom I cannot 
conquer; but my Lord Jesus Christ has con¬ 
quered him ! ” 

After he had expressed his thanks to the 
Elector for his visit and for his support in the 
work of the gospel, which was associated with 
many sufferings and much opposition, the 
Elector replied : 

“ I fear, dear Doctor, that if God should 
take you away, he would also take away his 
precious word. ’ 

“ No, no, my gracious master, that God 
would not do,” said Luther; “ there are yet 
many learned and faithfnl men who are earnest 
in the cause and well understand.it, and I trust 
that God will give them grace to make them¬ 
selves a wall round it to defend and preserve 
it. God grant it. Amen!” Then he folded 
his hands in silent prayer. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


343 


The Elector then addressed some words of 
exhortation to the theologians, and asked 
whether all had subscribed the Articles, which 
was answered in the affirmative by Melanch- 
thon. 

When the Elector was about to withdraw, 
he spoke to Luther in relation to his family 
the consoling words : 

“ If God should call you away, be not dis¬ 
tressed about the support of your wife and 
children; I will provide for them all as if they 
were mine.” 

About an hour after the Elector had retired, 
Luther began again to speak, and said: 

“ I thought it was the unhealthy atmosphere 
that caused my sickness, but it is the devil’s 
fault; he takes everything he can find and tor¬ 
ments me with it.” 

His malady increased from the day on which 
he had preached, and it was his earnest desire 
to be taken away from Schmalkald. 

Although, owing to his sickness, he could 
not take any part in the proceedings, nor dis¬ 
play any activity except in his sermons and 
opinions given, yet his sick bed was so rich in 
memorable sayings, that, independent of being 


344 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

the author of the Schmalkald Articles, they of 
themselves would secure for him a lasting 
monument. In addition to many other edify¬ 
ing and encouraging sentiments which he ut¬ 
tered, he said, “ I cling to the Lord Christ and 
his Word, and I recognize no other righteous¬ 
ness than his precious blood, which cleanses 
me and all others who believe from all sin, out 
of pure grace. This is what my books and the 
Augsburg Confession teach.” 

He suffered severely for eight days from 
ischury, and his friends tried to dissuade him 
from going home, but he would not be moved 
from his determination, especially as his physi¬ 
cian, Dr. George Sturz, who, at his request, 
was summoned from Erfurt, did not oppose it, 
because there was no apothecary in Schmal¬ 
kald who could furnish the necessary medi¬ 
cines. 

DEPARTURE FROM SCHMALKALD AND ARRIVAL 
IN WITTENBERG. 

He left that place on February 27, 1537. 
The Elector furnished him with his own car¬ 
riage, and sent with him Dr. Sturz, Bugen- 
hagen, and Spalatin. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 345 

The Elector also ordered a wagon loaded 
with coal and other apparatus to warm him, if 
necessary, on the way. 

On his journey, his pains from calculus be¬ 
came so intense, that he exclaimed: 

“ If there were only a Turk present who 
would kill me, I would willingly die, if only 
the devil’s legate were not there in Schmalkald 
who would proclaim it to the whole world that 
I died of fever and despair.” 

But when he had reached Tambach, in the 
Thuringian forest, his condition improved from 
hour to hour. 

He wrote to Melanchthon, thanking him for 
his earnest prayers, and informing him that 
God had heard them. He was relieved from 
his almost insupportable suffering, for which 
he praises God in language the most devout 
and sincere: 

“ Tell all this,” he continues, “ to my most 
gracious master and to all other friends. I 
have experienced their kindness to the very 
highest degree. Let things go now, as God 
wills, to life or death, I am ready, for I have 
not only come out of the cavern to the light, 
but I have received grace to know that I still 


346 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

have the silver fountain. I write in a hurry, 
but I wanted to tell you of my present condi¬ 
tion. Ochlopectes, the joyful messenger of 
this letter, who is in a hurry to be off, will give 
you further particulars. Thank with me the 
Father of all blessings, and pray that our lov¬ 
ing and beloved God may fully accomplish his 
work. 

“Yes, by my experience, we can learn to 
pray and venture to trust in the help of the 
Lord. 

“ May God preserve you all, and may he 
tread under his feet Satan with all his crew, 
the monster of the Roman court. Amen. To¬ 
ward 3 o’clock in the morning, at Tambach, the 
place where the Lord blessed me, for here is 
my Phanuel, where the Lord appeared to me.”* 

When the messenger arrived at Schmalkald, 
and passed the residence of the Cardinal, he 
exclaimed in a loud voice, “ Vivit Lutherus, 
vivit Lutherus! Thanks and praise to God, 
Luther lives and is well and hearty.” 

On the same day, Luther set out for Gotha. 
Bucer and other theologians were in that place, 
and important matters were considered. He 

*De Wette, v. 57. Mathesius Leben Dr. M. Luther. 319. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


347 


wrote to his wife, detailing the circumstances 
of his recovery. He tells her that, although 
the Elector had ordered an officer of his house¬ 
hold to bring her to him, that she might see 
him and speak to him before he died, yet that 
it is not necessary now for her to leave home, 
because “God has so mercifully helped me, 
that I hope soon to be with you.” 

His interviews here, with Bucer and others, 
were necessarily brief on account of his bodily 
weakness, so that subsequently, in December, 
he wrote an extensive reply to the Swiss 
theologians.* 

Unfortunately, he had a renewed attack at 
Gotha, so that on the night of February 28, 
he had his last will and testament written by 
Bugenhagen, which is preserved to this day 
in the archives of Weimar. Among other 
things in it, he says : 

“ He knows that he has done right and 
hence praises God, that he attacked the pap¬ 
acy, which is the enemy of God, of Christ, 
and of the gospel. Bugenhagen must greet 
his Philip and Cruciger, and in his name beg 
their forgiveness if he had wronged them 


* De Wette, v. 83. 




348 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


His wife must comfort herself with the reflec¬ 
tion that for twelve years she lived with him 
a happy and joyous life—that she served him 
faithfully and cheerfully. May God richly re¬ 
ward her for her kindness to him—he com¬ 
mends her to his friends, and trusts they will 
stand by her as far as possible.” 

He also sends greetings to the deacons and 
citizens of Wittenberg. 

To the Elector and the Landgrave, he di¬ 
rects the impressive language : “ They should 
be hopeful in God, and energetically accom¬ 
plish in the work of the gospel what the Holy 
Ghost would teach them. He suggests nothing 
to them. May the gracious and merciful God 
strengthen them, that they may remain stead¬ 
fast in the saving doctrine, and thank God, 
who rescued them out of the hands of anti- 
Christ. He had commended them to God in 
constant prayer, and hopes that God would 
sustain them, although they zvere not entirely 
pure , and had sins cleaving to them 

He finally said, " Now, I commend my soul 


* It is said that in later years, a pastor spoke these words 
to a prince in a service preparatory to the Lord’s Supper, the 
result of which was that the faithful pastor fell into disgrace. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


349 


into the hands of my heavenly Father and my 
Lord Jesus Christ, whom I have preached and 
proclaimed to the world. Amen/’ 

His weakness grew so alarmingly at Gotha, 
that on March i he made his private confes¬ 
sion to Bugenhagen, and received absolution 
from him. He spoke with Myconius about 
his funeral, but Bugenhagen did not abandon 
hope, and said, “ I hope you will get better.” 
And in fact, the Lord blessed the remedies, so 
that he was in a condition to resume his jour¬ 
ney. 

Before his departure from Gotha, he related, 
in the presence of Myconius and others, the 
story of his capture and of his life at the 
Wartburg. 

In Weimar he expected Melanchthon, who 
left Schmalkald on March 6, after the close of 
the convention. 

With the latter and other traveling compan¬ 
ions, he proceeded to Altenberg on March io, 
where, as appears from a letter of March 21, 
he was met by his wife. 

Spalatin had gone to Altenberg in advance, 
that he might be at home to receive his guest. 
All the company were entertained by him as 
30 


350 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


before, and Luther again addressed several 
verses to him. 

My Spalatin, Christ in the sick Luther comes to thee, 
And under thy hospitable roof he asks for rest, 

What thou to Luther dost, is also done to him, 

For of His body are not we Christians members all ?”* 

After they had refreshed themselves at Spal- 
atin’s house, they proceeded on their journey 
and arrived at Wittenberg on March 14, and 
on the 21st, he informed Spalatin that, by 
God’s grace, he was gradually recovering and 
learned to eat and drink again; although his 
limbs did not yet bear his body gently, for he 
had lost more strength than he had thought.*)* 
After we have thus accompanied our wan¬ 
derer and pious combatant for light and truth 
to his home and to his more limited sphere of 
Christian activity, let us now turn our eyes to 
the place where the Protestant princes and 
States were assembled. Though they were not 
willing to attend the proposed Council at Man¬ 
tua, because they foresaw that there was no sin- 

*Christus in infirmo venit hie Spalatine, Luthero, 

Et tua pro requie tecta benigna petit, 

Quicquid huic facies, factum sibi judicat ipse, 

Qui nos membra sui corporis esse docet. 
f De Wette, v. 59. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTKER. 


351 


cerity in the intention, and that they would be 
overpowered, yet they would not fail to trans¬ 
mit a very decided response, such as is so dis¬ 
tinctly enunciated in the Schmalkald Articles. 

It was a formidable assembly that had con¬ 
vened in Schmalkald. 

There were present thirteen of the highest 
princes and nobles of the land, besides ambas¬ 
sadors from five kings, dukes, and princes, and 
deputies from twenty-five cities. There were 
also present thirty-five theologians. 

The articles prepared by Luther and his 
coadjutors were here subscribed, and to this 
day they constitute a part of the Lutheran 
Confessions or Symbolical Books. 

There was present at the convention, an 
imperial ambassador named Matthias Held, 
who repeated his earnest request that the 
Protestants should appoint representatives to 
the Council in Mantua; but he expressed him¬ 
self in a style so objectionable that the princes 
and States felt less inclined than ever to favor 
that measure. An open breach between the 
parties now seemed unavoidable, although it 
was delayed under the peculiar circumstances 
until it came to a final consummation. 


352 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


JOURNEYS TO TORGAU AND LICHTENBERG. I 5 37. 

In 1536, Agricola requested his sovereign, 
Count Mansfeld, to release him from his pas¬ 
toral office at Eisleben, and at the same time 
complained that he had not been treated 
kindly, and that promises made to him had 
not been kept. The Count, on the other 
hand, charged him not only with ingratitude, 
but with avarice, neglect of his pastoral work, 
and intemperance; and, moreover, that he 
preached more against the Protestants than 
against the Papists. 

Agricola went to Wittenberg, and there re¬ 
ceived permission to lecture at the University, 
for which a compensation was granted by the 
Elector. But he began to inculcate his old 
• opinions, and taught Antinomian doctrines. 

When Luther thought himself dying at 
Schmalkald, he expressed his apprehension 
to the Elector that after his death, discussion 
concerning doctrine would arise in the Univer¬ 
sity. The prediction was fulfilled in the Anti¬ 
nomian controversies, which were excited by 
Agricola. 

These may also have been the occasion of a 
summons to Luther and Melanchthon to Tor- 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 353 

gau, on April 3 (1537), by the Elector, to 
deliberate with him upon this affair. 

Subsequently, on May 5, during a visit to 
Wittenberg, he, through his chancellor, Dr. 
Briick, also expressed his displeasure at the 
fact that Melanchthon and Cruciger taught dif¬ 
ferently, on the doctrines of justification and 
good works, from Luther.* 

Shortly after, Luther journeyed to Lichten- 
berg for the purpose of hearing a complaint 
against the good man, Dr. Reisebusch, brought 
by the pastor at Prettin, who had charged him 
with unfairness in distributing the proceeds of 
the convent property. 

* Lingke, 127; Seckendorf, 1611. 

30* X 



CHAPTER VII. 


JO URNE YS TO TIME OF DEA TH. 1538—1546. 


JOURNEYS TO TORGAU, TWICE, AND TO LOCHAU. 


C HAGRINED at the total failure of his 
efforts at Schmalkald, the Vice-Chancel¬ 
lor, Matthias Held, traveled about to the dif¬ 
ferent papal courts, and exerted himself in 
forming a league against the Protestants for 
the maintenance of the Catholic Church in her 
presumed rights and doctrines. It was estab¬ 
lished under the name of “ The Holy League.” 

The participants were the Archbishops of 
Mainz and Saltzburg, Duke George of Saxony, 
and the Dukes of Bavaria and Brunswick. It 
is uncertain whether the Emperor bestowed 
upon it his sanction or aid. 

It was a source of gratification that, during 
this year, the members of the Schmalkald 
Covenant increased. 

( 354) 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


355 


Joachim II., who, after the death of his 
father, Joachim I., assumed the Electorate of 
Brandenburg, had for a long time been a great 
admirer of Luther, and when his brother John, 
who reigned in Mark Brandenburg, openly- 
espoused the Lutheran doctrine and introduced 
it into his territory (1538), Joachim followed 
his example. In 1539 the Electorate of Bran¬ 
denburg became Lutheran, although much 
of Catholicism was still tolerated. 

Towards the end of March, 1538, the evan¬ 
gelical princes held a meeting at Brunswick, 
which Luther was to attend. But as Duke 
George Henry of Brunswick refused a “ safe 
conduct” for Luther, and the latter was again 
suffering from his old complaint, the plan was 
frustrated. 

When we hear of his presence in Torgau, on 
January 27, it is very probable that he was 
called there by the Elector, to hear his advice 
on the Brunswick Convention. 

It deserves to be particularly mentioned that 
on September 10 he went with Jonas to 
Lochau (Annaberg), where important church 
affairs claimed their attention.* On this occa- 


* Tisch Reden, 407. 



356 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


sion he spoke with severity against the ingrati¬ 
tude of some of the pastors, which he imputed 
to the Antinomians. 

On his return to Wittenberg, he had Vice- 
Chancellor Franciscus Burkhard as a compan¬ 
ion, who gave him some account of his inter¬ 
views with the King of England, and informed 
him that the king was much incensed against 
the pope.* 

The same person also accompanied Luther 
and Melanchthon on horseback on a journey 
to Torgau, to attend a convention to assemble 
at Arnstadt, on November 19. Burkhard was 
a man of high distinction. He had studied at 
Wittenberg under Melanchthon’s direction, 
and, in 1534, was appointed Dean of the Philo¬ 
sophical Faculty. He was ambassador at 
several courts, and was' on several occasions 
sent to England. One was, when he went 
with a Saxon Marshal to arrange the prelimi¬ 
naries of a marriage between Henry VIII. and 
the Princess Anna of Cleves, the sister of the 
Elector; and the third was, in November of 
this year, to accompany the bride to England.*)* 

*Colloq. Luther, i. 174. 

fSeckendorf, Lib. iii. 180, 227. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


357 


Burkhard was in high favor with the king, 
and the horse which he rode in company with 
Luther and Melanchthon, was presented to 
him by that sovereign. But he refused an 
offer of the king to enter into his service. 

At this time, Luther suffered many vexa¬ 
tions besides his anxieties arising from the 
Antinomians. 

He was much displeased with those nobles 
who complained that the preachers were not 
good enough for them, and wrote a letter to 
the pastor and superintendant at Grimma, John 
Schreiner: 

“ Who can furnish to these nobles only such 
men as Dr. Martinus and M. Philip on such a 
beggar’s salary as they give ? If they want 
only St. Augustines and St. Ambroses, let them 
get such themselves. 

“ When a pastor is efficient and faithful to 
his Lord and Master, Christ, even a nobleman, 
who is much beneath Christ in dignity and 
honor, should be satisfied. A prince should 
be satisfied in his civil government, if, among 
all his nobility, he can find three who can be 
of any service to him, and with the other 
blockheads he must have patience. They 


358 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


want to be very select in the choice of a 
pastor, but will not be nor can be select them¬ 
selves.” * 

Luther was very sick during this year, so 
that he sighed, “ Oh! dear heavenly Father, 
have I not lived long enough ? Let me but 
pray with the prophet Jona, ‘ O God! take 
away my life from me, for my death is better 
than life.’ ” 

Notwithstanding his infirmities, in this year 
he published “ The Opinions of a Committee 
of several Cardinals, Pope Paul III.,” written 
and published by his command, with notes, 
and in the preface he says, “ The pope is drag¬ 
ging himself along with the poor Council, like 
a cat with her kittens.” 

He also wrote a preface to another small 
book relating to the Diet at Nurnberg, in 
which the pope is fiercely assailed. 

JOURNEY TO LEIPZIG, AND BUSINESS. 

When Duke George of Saxony, who had for 
many years shown himself as the decided 
enemy of Luther and of his doctrine, died on 
April 17, 1539, possessions, because he 

* De Wette, v. 69. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


359 


had not made a will, fell to his brother, Duke 
Henry, who before had refused them, because 
the condition of receiving them was that he 
should return to the papal church. 

This pious duke, who until now had resided 
in Freiberg, immediately upon his entrance 
upon the government, took measures to intro¬ 
duce Protestantism into his dominion, which 
he had embraced in 1525. 

The Elector of Saxony, John Frederick, 
sustained him in this important movement, by 
counsel and act. 

Duke Henry was invited to Leipzig in fur¬ 
therance of this enterprise. It was on Pente¬ 
cost, when the Reformation in Leipzig was to 
be established upon a firm foundation, where, 
by the Elector’s invitation, the Duke and many 
nobles appeared. Besides these, Luther, Me- 
lanchthon, Jonas, and Cruciger, with a number 
of students, Myconius and others, were present. 

On May 23 (1539), the public reception of 
Duke Henry took place in Leipzig, and the 
Elector relates in a manuscript, still preserved 
in the archives of Weimar, that Luther thus 
expressed himself in relation to the Duke and 
his posterity : 


360 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

“ I observe that Duke George does not cease 
to persecute the word of God and the preach¬ 
ing of it, as well as the poor Lutherans, yea, 
that every day he becomes more violent and 
intolerant; but I shall certainly live to see the 
day when his name shall be obliterated of God, 
and I shall yet preach in Leipzig.” And this 
was now fulfilled. 

On Pentecost, May 24, Luther preached in 
the Castle Chapel on John xiv. 23-41. He 
preached on several other occasions, when the 
whole service was conducted in the German 
language, and Luther’s own hymns were sung 
before and after the sermons. 

Such immense crowds attended these ser¬ 
vices, that the people sat upon the bases of the 
columns and stood in the aisles. Many raised 
ladders from the outside against the church, 
and listened through the open windows. Most 
of the people fell upon their knees, and thanked 
God with tears for the wonderful redemption 
from popery. 

Even Maimbourg could not restrain these 
words, “ Duke Henry called Luther to Leip¬ 
zig, who in one day, and by one sermon, 
preached on Whitsuntide, converted the whole 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 361 

city, which had been Catholic, all at once to 
Lutherans.” 

He here met many friends, and was most 
hospitably treated by persons of every rank. 

The Elector had advised the Duke not to 
delay the consummation of measures adopted 
by the introduction and establishment of the 
Reformation, and thus contravene all secret 
intrigues and designs of the enemies of the 
cause. 

Bugenhagen and the Wittenberg theologians 
were directed to prepare the methods of carry¬ 
ing on the work thus auspiciously begun. 
These related to the government of the 
churches, the order of divine service, the 
schools, administration of discipline and lay 
cooperation. 

In this way Duke Henry laid hold of the 
work, and immediately issued a decree, in 
which private and sacrificial masses, as well as 
the administration of the Lord’s Supper, “ in 
one kind” (bread only) were forbidden, and on 
the other hand, ordered that sermons were to 
be preached to the people. 

In 1536, Justus Jonas was directed to pre¬ 
pare a Church constitution, a liturgy for the 

31 


362 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


sacraments and worship, and general rules for 
conducting the Church services, which, in 
1 5 39* was examined by several theologians, 
and recommended for adoption. 

These were some of the results of the pro¬ 
ceeding of this year at Leipzig. 

Myconius gives a particular account of these 
transactions, and reports the opposition en¬ 
countered from the Catholic party, and says at 
the end, “ The rector stood by us, as well as 
some of the magistrates, and it is to be hoped 
that Satan has bruised his head against our 
rock Christ, so that he will to some extent cease 
his gnawing.” And that occurred. Leipzig did 
not hide its light under a bushel, but lets it yet 
shine in vigorous conflicts in behalf of evan¬ 
gelical truth, and contributes immeasurably to 
the attainment of the final victory. The seed 
which Luther sowed in Leipzig in those days has 
sprung up, and has brought forth beautiful fruit. 

RETURN FROM LEIPZIG BY WAY OF GRIMMA. 

After the foundation for the Reformation 
work was laid in Leipzig, the Elector and 
Duke Henry left on May 26, and pursued 
their journey thrpugh Grimma. Luther was 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 363 

honored with a seat by them in their vehicle. 
On this occasion, Duke Henry complained 
much of his brother Duke George, and af¬ 
firmed that never in his life had he a more 
bitter enemy than his own brother.* 

Notwithstanding that, he had great reason 
to thank God for his wonderful guidance and 
protection. 

Luther reached home on June i. On the 
day, he wrote a letter to John Lauterbach, 
which relates to the report of the second mar¬ 
riage of the Landgrave Philip.f 

He kept constantly in view upon his return 
the exertions he had put forth in Leipzig in 
behalf of the Church. 

The Bishop of Meissen, John von Maltitz, 
who, immediately after the death of Duke 
George, had implored Duke Henry not to in¬ 
troduce any innovations in religion, inasmuch 
as he himself was thinking of a reformation, 
sent to the Duke a book entitled “ Common 
Christian doctrine in Articles which every 
Christian ought to know.” 

The Elector John Frederick ordered Luther 


*Seckendorf, 1815 
f De Wette, v. 290. 



364 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


and some others to send him their judgment 
on this little book. This was done, and Lu¬ 
ther added his own special opinion to that of 
the general committee. He says in the begin¬ 
ning: 

“ There is no room for disputation here; if 
my gracious Duke Henry wants the gospel, he 
must abolish all idolatry or give it no protec¬ 
tion. 

“ Now, all idolatry is a small affair in com¬ 
parison with the mass, of which enough has 
been written and spoken, hence his Grace must 
use all diligence to abolish the mass in the 
monasteries. If the wrath of heaven is not al¬ 
ready too great, the abolition of this unspeak¬ 
able abomination might mitigate that wrath. 
If the monks wish to read their ‘ Hours’ (book 
of devotion), or preach among themselves, let 
them do so, until we see how it will end.” 

Finally, he adds, “ The poor people and 
hamlets, under the abbots and bishops, should 
be visited, particularly as they desire it; other¬ 
wise it might appear as if they were abandoned.” 

The visitation was pursued, but, as Luther 
wrote, it was too negligently conducted, and 
as over five hundred priests, poisonous papists, 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 365 

were not examined, and who now raise their 
horns in defiance and spite, he begged the 
Elector, for the sake of the poor souls, many 
thousands of which are neglected by such 
priests, to order a second visitation in Meissen. 
For it snowed letters from that place to Wit¬ 
tenberg, and yet there was no place designated 
and no person appointed to instruct the people 
in Church duties or affairs. ” 

JOURNEY TO LICHTENBERG. 1539 - 

A special occasion led him this year to 
Lichtenberg, where the wife of the Elector of 
Brandenburg, Joachim I., was staying. Her 
mother was the sister of Elector John the 
Constant. 

As at her marriage she showed a strong 
attachment to Protestantism, her husband 
threatened her with imprisonment. Hence it 
was that, in 1528, she fled to her uncle 
the Elector John, who prepared the castle 
Lichtenberg for her residence, where we find 
her in 1539. 

She had a high admiration for Luther, with 
whom she had frequent interviews, and at one 
time lived in his house for three months. 


366 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

But as she led an extravagant life, and was 
besides in bad health, Luther wrote to the 
Elector John Frederick with the request that 
he would allow her to return to Lichtenberg.* 
But the Elector replied that he doubted the 
expediency of granting the request on account 
of the condition of the castle. Nothwithstand- 
ing this refusal, she repaired thither, and 
Luther was convinced that it was by the con¬ 
sent or connivance of the Elector, which was, 
however, not the case, although he laid no 
other obstruction in her way, so that she lived 
there this year undisturbed.f 

She sent for Luther several times, and, in a 
letter of February 10, 1544 (five years later), 
Luther calls her his god-mother, and thanks 
her that she provided a pastor for the town of 
Brettin.f 

On June 11, he visited the Countess Eliza¬ 
beth, of Brandenburg, and was invited to her 
table. 

When his noble hostess on this occasion 
expressed her ardent wishes that he might live 


* Burkhardt, '289. 
f Burkhardt, 292. 
t De Wette, v. 630. 




JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 367 

many years, he said that his mind was not at 
all concerned about living long, which we can 
easily understand when we consider the numer¬ 
ous struggles and conflicts he endured in pro¬ 
moting the holy cause and the frequent attacks 
of sickness to which he was subject. 

The result of his visit to the Countess was, 
that in this, the Reformation made progress in 
Brandenburg. 

JOURNEY TO EISLEBEN AND NIEDER ROSSLA. 

1539 - 

Luther’s sister, Dorothea, was married to a 
man named Mackenrot, who lived in Rossla, 
and who was employed by Count Mansfeld in 
the working of his mines. This was near 
Eisleben, which place he visited this year, and 
from there wrote a letter to his sister in which 
he expresses his great pleasure at her interest 
in the gospel, and his regret that she cannot 
hear the gospel preached in her village, but 
declaring his intention to go to that place and 
preach the first evangelical sermon if he could 
possibly succeed. 

The priest at that place clung fast to the old 
papal ways; he would have nothing to do with 


3 68 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


the “new way,” as he called it—he would not 
submit to the Church order of the Elector 
John—continued to hold the mass after the 
ancient fashion, and practiced all manner of 
jugglery. 

Tradition says, that Luther wanted to preach 
at Rossla, but, as difficulties were thrown in 
the way by this papist, it did not occur. But 
at Upper Rossla, where there was no such 
impediment, he proclaimed the gospel without 
molestation. The pulpit, a remnant of the old 
church, is still shown, which he occupied on 
that occasion; and even the house where he 
lodged is also pointed out to the curious 
traveler. 


JOURNEY TO DESSAU. 1540 . 

In explanation of the journeys in this year, 
we must notice some facts which properly be¬ 
long to the conclusion of the preceding year. 

Just as the pope, so also did the Catholic 
States display an unfavorable disposition to¬ 
ward the Protestants, and Ferdinand himself, 
the king of the Romans, exerted all his 
influence at a diet held in Worms (1539), 
to induce several imperial estates to take part 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


369 


in the so-called “Holy League,” so that the 
Protestants could no longer remain in uncer¬ 
tainty as to what they were to expect. 

In the mean time, at the beginning of the 
year 1540, they sent an embassy to the Em¬ 
peror in the Netherlands, who was there at 
that time, and renewed their persistent deter¬ 
mination to adhere to the proceedings at 
Frankfurt, and insisted upon the immediate 
consummation of the promise of the “ Relig¬ 
ious Conference.” 

The Emperor expressed his willingness, aud 
by a special communication to the Elector of 
Saxony and the Landgrave of Hesse, invited 
them to a convention to be held at Spire on 
June 6. But as an epidemic disease was pre¬ 
vailing at that time at Spire, the meeting was 
opened at Hagenau, on June 12. 

They separated without having come to any 
definite result, and postponed the convention 
for the next year at Worms. 

During this time, Luther journeyed to Des¬ 
sau, where he stood as sponsor to the child of 
the son of prince John of Anhalt, who was 
married to a daughter of the Elector of Bran¬ 
denburg. 

Y 


370 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


This is an additional proof of the high esti¬ 
mation in which Luther was held by the 
princes of Anhalt, who were zealous pro¬ 
moters of the Reformation. 

He preached several times on this occasion, 
and small as his audience was, consisting only 
of the prince’s family and several other per¬ 
sons of distinction, yet his discourses con¬ 
tributed to kindle the light of the gospel 
more and more in the hearts of his distin¬ 
guished hearers, and to establish them in the 
evangelical faith. This was of great conse¬ 
quence to the work of the Reformation, for 
the more the gospel was appreciated by the 
higher classes, the more by their influence 
did it penetrate the lower ranks of society. 

JOURNEYS TO WEIMAR AND EISENACH BY WAY 
OF ERFURT AND GOTHA. 

Among others who were selected to be 
present at the meeting of the Catholic and 
Protestant States, at Hagenau, in June, was 
Melanchthon. 

As he was about to leave for that place, he 
was induced by a dream to make his will, as 
he believed he would die upon the journey. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


37 


Notwithstanding this, he set out on June 
II, and after a few days reached Weimar, 
where he was attacked with a serious sickness, 
to which his grief at the continuous dissen¬ 
sions and the double marriage of the Land¬ 
grave Philip, which he had sanctioned, had 
contributed essentially. His condition grew 
worse to such an extent, that his approaching 
death was expected. 

“ His tender, nervous nature,” says Gustav 
Konig,* “ was tormented by the severest pains 
which can assail a weak, dying man. He was 
dissatisfied with himself, for his conscience 
found no peace against the internal reproof 
that he did not heroically resist the inordinate 
demands and carnal inclinations of the Land¬ 
grave, and that he thus seemed to sanction 
the scandal of the Evangelical Church.” 

Luther, who had already written him a letter 
of consolation, was called with Cruciger to 
Weimar, on June 16. The Elector also sum¬ 
moned Dr. Sturtz from Erfurt, whom Melanch- 
thon esteemed very highly. 

With alarm Luther beheld the deathlike 
countenance of his friend, the fixed eyes, the 

* Dr. M. Luther, der Deutsche Reformator, Gotha, p. 39. 



372 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


hollow, sunken cheeks, and he was utterly un¬ 
conscious. 

This visit of Luther to Melanchthon has 
been described by Solomon Glasius, former 
superintendent of Gotha : 

“ When Luther came to Weimar, he found 
Melanchthon at the point of death. 

“ His eyes were broken, he was insensible, 
unable to speak or hear, his cheeks fallen in, 
he recognized no one and could take no nour¬ 
ishment. Luther was terrified at the sight, 
and, turning to his traveling companions, said: 
‘ Good heavens, how much injury Satan has 
done to this my right-hand man!’ and then 
retiring to the window he called upon God in 
fervent prayer. Afterwards he said, * We must 
hold on to our God. I pleaded all his prom¬ 
ises to hear prayer that I knew out of the 
Scriptures, and he must hear me if his prom¬ 
ises are to be trusted.’ He then took Philip 
by the hand and said: ‘ Be of good cheer, 
Philip, thou wilt not die’ (Bono animo esto, 
Philippe, non morieris). 

“ ‘ Although God would have reason to 
bring death, yet he does not wish the death of 
the sinner, but rather that he turn and live. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


373 


“ ‘ If God has restored to his favor the 
greatest sinners upon earth, such as Adam 
and Eve, much less will He reject thee, my 
Philip, and let you die in sin and sadness. 
Hence give no place to the spirit of melan¬ 
choly and dejection, and do no harm to thy¬ 
self, but trust in the Lord, who killeth and 
maketh alive, hurts and binds, wounds and 
heals.’ 

“ Melanchthon began gradually to breathe 
more freely, but for a long time was unable 
to utter a word. He turned his eyes directly 
towards Luther and begged him for heaven’s 
sake not to keep him here—he was now going 
on a safe voyage, and he should let him pro¬ 
ceed—nothing better could happen to him. 

“‘No, no!’ said Luther, ‘thou must still 
further serve our God.’ 

“ Melanchthon improved every hour, and 
Luther ordered him some food, which he him¬ 
self handed to the sick man, who refused to 
take it. Luther urged it upon him, saying: 
‘ Hearest thou, Philip? thou must eat this with¬ 
out delay, or I will put thee under the ban! ’ 
This had the effect, and Melanchthon partook 
of a small portion of the food, and gradually 
32 


374 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


grew stronger. He afterward wrote to Burk- 
hard Mythobius, and said : 

“ ‘ I received your letters.when I 

was suffering a deadly attack of sickness, 
brought on by vexation and anxiety. I 
would have died but for Luther’s coming, 
who snatched me from the jaws of death.* ’* 
He also wrote to Camerarius: 

“ I wish that you would sing ‘ I will not die 
but live and declare the works of the Lord.’ * 
When I was sick in Weimar, I found this verse 
written on the wall of my chamber, and it 
quickened me.” 

Luther wrote to his wife: 

“ Nothing has come out of the Diet at 
Hagenau ; it was all work and trouble for 
nothing; yet, if we did nothing more, we res¬ 
cued Mr. Philip from the grave, and shall 
happily bring him home, if God will. Amen.”f 
Neither Luther nor Melanchthon were pre¬ 
sent at the convention in Hagenau; but the 
Elector directed his deputy and the theolog¬ 
ians Cruciger, Myconius, and Menius, to pro¬ 
ceed thither. He ordered Cruciger to remain 


* Meurer’s Luther, 
f De Wette, v. 299. 




JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 375 

in Weimar some time longer, partly on ac¬ 
count of Melanchthon, who desired it, and 
partly on account of the Hagenau convention, 
concerning which he wished to consult him. 
To this must be added the fact that Philip, 
Landgrave of Hesse, requested the Elector to 
appoint several members of his Privy Council, 
besides Luther and Melanchthon, to consult 
with several of his commissioners upon his 
second marriage, which occasioned so much 
scandal, and which was a source of painful 
solicitude to him. 

On March 3, 1540, the Landgrave married 
a second wife, whilst his first was yet living. 
She *was Margaretta von Sala, and the mar¬ 
riage took place at Rothenburg on the Fulda, 
in the presence of Melanchthon, Bucer, and the 
Burgermaster of Eisenach, Eberhard von Tharin. 
Luther and Melanchthon both unfortunately 
sanctioned it after a long argument against it, 
but they pleaded peculiar circumstances, which, 
however, were no grounds of justifying the 
act. The weaknesses of the Landgrave formed 
no excuse for this adulterous union. This was 
one of the errors of these great men, and no 
honest historian will attempt to vindicate them. 


376 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

The Landgrave was apprehensive that the 
Emperor would indignantly disapprove of it, 
and that thus he would lose the imperial favor, 
and for this reason he tried to secure the 
Elector’s influence in his behalf. 

The Elector appointed a meeting of counsel¬ 
lors and theologians to be held in Eisenach on 
July 18, 1540.* 

It was resolved at this meeting that, “ The 
Landgrave should not be left without sympa¬ 
thy and help in case the Emperor should at¬ 
tack him; yet, to prevent further scandal, that 
the affair should be left as secret as possible.” 

Luther’s private opinion thus concludes^ 
“ Before God he would defend the act ^fter 
confession, and on the ground of necessity; but 
before the world and in view of the prevailing 
law, he could not, and would not, defend it.”f 

He said the same thing at the meeting in 
Eisenach. 

“ Before I would justify this affair publicly, 
I would rather deny that I and Melanchthon 
sanctioned it—and if this denial would not 
stand, and our reply would be regarded as a 


*Meurer makes it 1541. 
f Ibid. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


3 77 


justification, I would rather confess that I had 
erred, and will beg for pardon. For the scan¬ 
dal was intolerable.”* 

When a book appeared under the assumed 
name of Ludwig Neobolus, in which bigamy is 
defended, Luther wrote, “ He who follows this 
book, and takes more than one wife, and main¬ 
tains that it is right, may the devil bless his 
bath in the deepest pit of hell.” 

He arrived at home on July 27. 

JOURNEYS TO PRETZSCH. I 541 . 

Luther was now fifty*eight years of age, and 
in this year suffered severely from sickness. 
He was much confined to his house, where, 
after the burdens of the day, he had his most 
happy enjoyment. 

As a lover of music, he practiced under the 
direction of the Electoral Chapel master, John 
Walther, in the presence of his family and 
friends, the first Protestant Church hymns. 

“ I have,” says Walther, “ sung with him 
many happy hours, and have often observed 
that the dear man was so joyous of heart, that 
he scarcely ever tired of singing.” 

*Seckendorf, 1874. 

32* 



378 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


He was equally an admirer of nature, and 
after hours and days of anxiety, he would 
heartily enjoy himself in the open air. He 
wrote to his friend in 1526: “I have planted 
the garden and built a wall around the spring, 
and have done both successfully.” He com¬ 
pared the Bible to a beautiful forest, in which 
there is no tree which he did not shake with 
his own hand. 

He also felt a deep interest in the sufferings 
and enjoyments of others, and was ever ready 
to sympathize with the sorrowing and heal 
their wounds. 

Notwithstanding his bodily infirmities, he 
insisted upon traveling to Pretzsch, to be with 
his dying patron and friend, Hans von Loser, 
and to preach his funeral sermon. Hans von 
Loser had been one of his most intimate friends 
for many years, and an ardent promoter of the 
Reformation. 

During this year, he was exposed to the risk 
of a terrible calamity, but which he happily es¬ 
caped. A Wittenberger tried to murder him 
with a rifle shot, but failed.* 

Luther preached the first evangelical sermon 


*Lingke. Beilage, i. u. 11. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 379 

at Pretzsch, and thus, wherever he went, he 
sought to spread the light of the gospel. 

JOURNEY TO NAUMBURG. 

To have a proper conception of the state of 
church affairs in Naumburg, some few prelimi¬ 
nary remarks are necessary. 

At this time, the canons or cathedral clergy 
with the majority of other clerics and some of 
the nobles, were still devoted to the old papal 
religion, but the towns and villages had em¬ 
braced the gospel, and attended worship in the 
neighboring electoral residences. 

As early as 1520, Dr. Pfenning preached the 
gospel in the town of Naumburg, but the 
canons threw him into prison, where he died. 
Several other ministers, who made similar at¬ 
tempts, shared the same fate. 

Under the electoral patronage, an evangelical 
minister was established in the church of St. 
Moritz in the suburbs, and because he had 
many hearers, an assistant was assigned to 
him. 

In spite of these hindrances, the cause of the 
Reformation advanced under the protection of 
the Elector, and in 1537, Nicolas Medler was 


380 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


chosen as pastor and superintendent at 
Naumburg, who also composed a church 
liturgy and service, which received the ap¬ 
proval of Luther and Melanchthon. 

In 1541, he began to preach in the Cathe¬ 
dral, whilst the canons continued to read mass. 

The Pfalzgrave Philip, Bishop of Freysingen 
and Naumburg, died in January, 1541, and, 
against the knowledge and will of the Elector, 
who was the patron of that foundation, the 
election of a new bishop was undertaken, 
which, in the same month, fell upon Julius von 
Pflug, Canon of the Chapter and Provost at 
Zeitz. 

The Elector was justly incensed at this se¬ 
cret proceeding, and in his own name and that 
of his brother, John Ernst, he sent Christopher 
von Taubenheim and Eberhard von Thann, 
with the commission, that if the canons had 
proceeded to an election, to protest against it, 
and to uphold the rights of the Elector. 

When the commissioners reached Naum¬ 
burg, they were informed that the election had 
been held. 

They then demanded that the bishop-elect 
should not be consecrated nor be admitted to 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


381 


the possession of the episcopal dignity until 
they had heard of the resolution of the Elector. 

Although the canons did not mention the 
name of the elected bishop, yet the commis¬ 
sioners soon discovered the person. 

Hereupon the Elector, John Frederick, 
wrote to the Council at Naumburg: 

“ The character of Von Pflug is well known 
to him, and he also knew that he was a learned 
man, and sufficiently convinced of the truth 
of the evangelical doctrine as it has been intro¬ 
duced into Saxony and contained in the Augs¬ 
burg Confession, and that he acknowledges it 
as Christian and orthodox, and yet it is very 
evident that nevertheless he antagonizes it 
with all his might against his better knowl- 
edge_and conscience. Consequently, the Chap¬ 
ter could not have chosen any one who could 
have been more objectionable and more intol¬ 
erable and more injurious to the Reformation, 
for he, the Elector, must, above all things, be 
solicitous, that the pure doctrine already intro¬ 
duced into the bishoprick should be maintained 
in its integrity.” 

The canons, however, designated Julius von 
Pflug as the bishop-elect, and commended him 


382 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

to the favor of the Elector “ for his upright de¬ 
portment, respectable birth, and remarkable 
learning and diligence.” 

The Elector also received a letter from the 
Emperor himself, in which he said that Pflug 
was lawfully elected, and that as the bishopric 
was under the imperial protection, the Elector 
should place no obstacles in the way of his in¬ 
troduction to the office. 

In the meantime, the Elector persisted in his 
purpose, and proposed deacon Gunther von Bu- 
nau as a candidate. 

But as this proposition was rejected, and the 
canons would not proceed to another election, 
the Elector stood upon his rights (jus super- 
ioritatis), with the concurrence of the knight¬ 
hood, the towns and states of the foundation, 
and determined to appoint Licentiate Amsdorf, 
at that time preacher in Magdeburg, to the of¬ 
fice. 

The people of Magdeburg were unwilling to 
part with their faithful and beloved pastor, but 
the Elector adhered to his determination, and 
the necessary measures were taken for the 
episcopal consecration. 

To Luther was awarded the distinguished 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 383 

honor of preaching the consecration sermon, 
and for this purpose, he went to Naumburg on 
January 17, 1542. 

amsdorf’s consecration to the episcopal 

OFFICE, AND LUTHF:r’s RETURN. I 542 . 

Luther arrived at Naumburg with Melanch- 
thon on January 18, and found there a consid¬ 
erable assembly of princes and clergy. Among 
the former were the Elector and his brother, 
John Ernst, who had arrived on the evening 
of the same day, and Duke Ernst of Lune- 
burg; among the latter, the canons, Ernst, 
Count Rheinstein, Provost of the cathedral, 
George Forstmeister, and the Abbot of St. 
George. Besides these there were several no¬ 
blemen present, and in addition to Luther and 
Melanchthon, the three superintendents of 
Altenburg, Raumburg, and Weissenfels, Spala- 
tin, Medler, and Wolfgang Stein. 

The Order of Knighthood, with the deputies 
from the cities and towns, on the next day 
went to Luther’s lodgings, and declared, in the 
presence of Spalatin and Melanchthon, that 
they intended to continue faithful to the pure 
evangelical doctrine, and hence would accept 


3§4 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


of no papistical bishop; but at the same time 
they asked for advice, how they could satisfy 
their conscience in relation to the oath which 
they took to the cathedral chapter. 

Luther told them that in the confession of 
Christ and his doctrine, they must obey God 
rather than man, and regard their baptismal 
vows as more binding than any other obliga¬ 
tions upon oath, just as the Elector of Saxony 
and other princes had already done. 

On the same day the Knights came to the 
unanimous determination to give their concur¬ 
rence in writing to the Elector’s choice of 
Amsdorf as bishop of Naumburg, and on the 
next day, the 20th, the consecration of the new 
bishop was consummated. 

On that day, at 9 a. m., Luther and Melanch- 
thon, in the same vehicle, were driven to the 
cathedral, and they were followed by the Elec¬ 
tor John Frederick, his brother, Duke John 
Ernst of Saxony, and Duke Ernst of Lune- 
burg, with their retinues. It was a stately 
procession, by which the service of consecra¬ 
tion was rendered more impressive, superadded 
to the high electoral choice and sanction. 

After Superintendent Medler had offered 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 385 

prayer, and a hymn had been sung, Luther 
advanced before the altar, and delivered a 
powerful discourse on the true Christian 
Church and the office of bishops, which was 
printed at Wittenberg in the same year. 

After this the Veni , Sancte Spiritus (Come, 
Holy Ghost) was chanted with the collect, when 
Luther specially addressed Nicolas Amsdorf, 
upon the responsibility of the episcopal office, 
which was also done by Thomas Hebenstreit, 
the Abbot of St. George, Dr. Medler, M. Wolf¬ 
gang Stein and Spalatin. After the solemnity, 
the new bishop was conducted to the episcopal 
chair in the choir, whilst the Elector and the 
other princes entered the same place. 

The service of consecration was concluded 
by the Ambrosian song of praise, to the high 
gratification of the Elector. 

On the return from the cathedral, the Elec¬ 
tor took Luther and the bishop with him into 
his own carriage. 

These two, with the Abbot of St. George, 
Melanchthon, and Spalatin, were invited to the 
Elector’s table. 

On the next day, the bishop assured the 
council and the town of all their rights and 


386 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

liberties which were not contrary to the Word 
of God and the institution of Christ by a pub¬ 
lished decree (literce resei~vales), and afterwards 
he received a public recognition by the people. 

On the same day the Elector, with Duke 
John Ernst, proceeded to Weimar to attend 
the Diet, whilst Luther left for Zeitz. Bishop 
Amsdorf headed the procession in company 
with some others on horseback. Other men 
of high distinction followed. 

On their arrival at Zeitz, they repaired to 
the castle; and on the following Sunday, the 
bishop preached on the gospel of the day, 
whilst Luther in the afternoon preached in the 
church of the Carmelites, on the Mighty Power 
of the Divine Word. Here also, as on a pre¬ 
vious occasion mentioned, the throng was so 
immense that many raised the fire ladders 
against the church that they might hear the 
great Reformer. 

He returned to Wittenberg on January 23. 

Some years afterwards, Amsdorf was driven 
from his bishopric by the Elector Moritz, 
when he turned his face towards Magdeburg, 
where he had many friends and firm adherents, 
from whence he was called to Jena as church 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 387 

councillor and professor of theology. In 
1550, he was appointed General Superinten¬ 
dent of the Principality of Eisenach by the 
sons of John Frederick, where he died on May 
14, 1565, in his eighty-second year. 

JOURNEY TO DESSAU, AND TO AN UNKNOWN 
PLACE. 1542 . 

The man of activity, the vigorous workman 
in the kingdom of God, allowed himself no 
rest. It is gratifying to follow him in this year 
with Melanchthon, Cruciger, and the physician 
Sturtz, by invitation of the Prince of Anhalt to 
Dessau. The design was to give him and his 
companions a season of relaxation. 

They arrived there.on September 7, and they 
spent some days in the circle of pious princes 
who knew how to appreciate the noble cham¬ 
pions of light and truth, and allowed no oppor¬ 
tunity to pass to show them their veneration 
and ardent attachment. Though it was but a 
few days that Luther remained at the princely 
court with his friends, yet he had some relaxa¬ 
tion from his numerous and exhausting labors 
and his over-burdened mind was for the time 
relieved. But soon after his return to Witten- 


388 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


berg, a heavy blow fell upon him in the death 
of his daughter, Magdalena, at fourteen years 
of age. 

While she was lying very sick, he said : 

“ I love her very dearly, but O God, as it is 
thy will to take her aw r ay, I will with submis¬ 
sion give her to thee.” 

And to her he said, “ Magdalen, my daugh¬ 
ter, you want to remain here with your father, 
and yet you want to go to that other Father.” 
“Yes,” replied the pious girl, “dear father, as 
God wills.” 

“Dear daughter! the spirit is willing, but 
the flesh is weak,” and then, turning away, he 
said, “ I love her so tenderly. If the flesh is so 
strong, what will the spirit be ?” 

As she approached her end, he threw him¬ 
self upon his knees before her bed, wept bit¬ 
terly, and prayed that God would release her. 
She then fell asleep in his arms. 

As she was lying in her coffin, the deeply 
afflicted father exclaimed, “You dear Lena, 
how well it is with you. You shall rise again, 
and shine as a star, yea, as the sun.” 

After this digression, a journey must be 
mentioned which he made this year to an un- 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 389 

known place, the occasion of which was the 
following: 

The wife of Prince John of Anhalt, Marga¬ 
ret, daughter of the Elector Joachim I. of 
Brandenburg, became unfaithful to her hus¬ 
band, and abandoned him. 

Luther, in company with her brother, the 
Margrave John of Brandenburg, proceeded to 
her place' of residence, for the purpose of re¬ 
conciling her, but the place where this was 
done is unknown. 

After his return, he said, as related in the 
Table Talk: 

“ Good heavens! how much trouble and 
labor some married people have. It costs labor 
to bring them together, and afterwards it costs 

more trouble to keep them together. 

A princess abandoned her husband in mere 
fool hardiness. I took her to task about it in 
no measured phrase, until she got mad at me.” 

Although Luther’s well meant exertions at 
first were fruitless, yet subsequently there must 
have been a reconciliation, for afterwards she 
became the mother of a princess. 

In this year, he wrote two letters to Ams- 
dorf. 



390 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


“ I am still thinking of paying you a visit, 
but I would rather have my headache cured 
before. I am displeased with myself even to 
impatience, that I have so often resolved to go 
and see you, and when I was ready to leave 
the next day, and everything was properly 
fixed, something else came in the way to pre¬ 
vent it.On this account, if God will, I 

will take the first opportunity, for I am very 
anxious to see you before I die.” 

He did not carry his purpose into effect this 
year; but the next, as we shall see, increasing 
debility kept him at home and subdued his 
courage, hence he often begged his friends to 
pray for him, that God would grant him soon 
a happy exit out of this world. 

JOURNEYS TO ZEITZ, ALTENBURG, AND TORGAU. 

1544 . 

The promised tour to Zeitz he was able to 
accomplish this year. The design of this so¬ 
journ of several days with Bishop Amsdorf 
was probably one of friendly intercourse, but 
that during this fraternal visit he was not inac¬ 
tive externally is evident from a letter he wrote 
to Spalatin for the purpose of consoling him, 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


391 


because his conscience was disturbed for hav¬ 
ing encouraged a minister to marry his dead 
wife’s step-mother. He was not satisfied with 
sending the letter, but visited Spalatin, to give 
him the influence of his personal presence. 

After he had returned to Zeitz from Alten- 
burg, where he visited Spalatin, he soon pre¬ 
pared to return to Wittenberg, after he had 
without doubt said much to support and con¬ 
sole Amsdorf in the numerous difficulties he 
encountered on the part of Von Pflug. 

The bishop sent his domestic physician with 
him, and also paid the expenses of the journey, 
and thus, in August, he reached home by way 
of Borna and Eilenburg. 

He found among his effects when he got 
home, a silver jug (cantharus argenteus) and 
spoon, which Amsdorf had, without his knowl¬ 
edge, put into his traveling bag. For these and 
for his generous hospitality, he cordially 
thanked him in letters. 

Although he insisted upon the physician 
leaving him after they had proceeded some 
distance, he would not comply, but accompa¬ 
nied him ail the way to Wittenberg, which was 
doubtless the bishop’s order. 


392 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER 


We now turn to the journey which he 
undertook to Torgau. 

The Elector had erected a new church at 
Torgau, and he invited Luther to consecrate it. 

This was done on October 5, and the ser¬ 
mon on the occasion was subsequently pub¬ 
lished by Cruciger. The music was conducted 
by John Walther, who at that time had the 
reputation of being a pious and God-fearing 
man, and practiced his art especially in the 
service of the church. 

JOURNEYS TO DOBELN AND MERSEBURG. 1545 - 

He visited Dobeln, for the purpose of in¬ 
stalling into his office Pastor Valentine Bruno, 
whom he had ordained some time before. 

His visit to Merseburg was more important, 
and this was the occasion of it. Luther had 
determined to leave Wittenberg several years 
before, because several circumstances annoyed 
him. One was the secret betrothals which 
were sanctioned by the jurists, which occa¬ 
sioned much immorality, even among the stu¬ 
dents, but he was urged by the pressing im¬ 
portunities of Bugenhagen and of the people 
to remain, and he complied. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


393 


But as this abomination grew notwithstand¬ 
ing his faithful admonitions, he absolutely left 
Wittenberg on July 26th, with the intention of 
never returning again. 

Upon his fixed purpose he thus expresses 
himself in a letter to his wife, written at Leip¬ 
zig in July: 

“ I am anxious so to arrange my affairs that 
I may never return to Wittenberg. My feel¬ 
ings are so estranged that I do not wish to be 
there again. I will give back the large house 
to my Gracious Master, and it would be better 
for you to go to Zulsdorf during my life. The 
property there can be improved by my salary, 
which I hope the Elector will continue, at least 

one year.The day after to-morrow, I 

am going to Merseburg, for Prince George has 

urgently invited me.I will thus ramble 

about, and would rather eat the bread of a 
beggar, before I would torment my poor, old 
last days by the disorders existing in Witten¬ 
berg, with the loss of my severe and exhaust¬ 
ing labor. You may tell this, if you like, to 
Philip and to Bugenhagen .... for I cannot 
longer endure the mortification and disgust.” * 


*De Wette, v. 752. 




394 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


In this letter, he expresses his anticipation 
of his approaching death in very decided 
terms, and this may be easily comprehended 
when we know that in several other letters he 
complains of the increase of his sufferings 
from calculus. 

When he left Wittenberg, he first proceeded 
to Lobnitz, a small village owned by Ernst 
von Schonfeld, who kindly received him, and 
this was natural, for Luther had hospitably 
cherished Eve and Margaretta von Schonfeld, 
who had escaped from the nunnery at Niem- 
tschen with Catherine de Bora, which act was 
held in grateful memory by the family. 

From this place, he proceeded to Leipzig, 
where a respectable merchant, Henry Scherl, 
showed him all honor and kindness. 

When the University of Wittenberg heard 
of his letter to his wife, the professors and 
authorities immediately wrote to the Elector, 
stating that they would immediately send a 
messenger to Luther, begging him to change 
his purpose, and not withdraw from the 
church, or University, or town, which would 
occasion great rejoicing among the enemies 
of the gospel, and unspeakable grief to the 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


395 


Elector, to the many faithful followers of 
Christ, and to the whole German nation. 
They further stated, that if he had been 
offended with the doctrine or conduct of any¬ 
body in the University or town, they would do 
all in their power to remove the cause. 

They intimated that the Elector should in¬ 
vite Luther to meet him at a designated place, 
that his friends might deliberate with him upon 
this affair, and this was done. 

A delegation from the University and the 
city was sent after him. They met him at 
Merseburg, and he was prevailed on to return. 

Melanchthon said: “ If Luther does not 
come back, I shall also have to hide myself; 
for he began the Reformation, and I, as the 
weakest and least important, followed his lead.” 

The Elector sent Luther a very kind letter, 
and assured him of his deep concern about his 
health, and of his tour to Zeitz for relaxation ; 
that if he had known it before, he would have 
sent him money to pay his expenses. He re¬ 
grets that he (Luther) had so many melan¬ 
choly trials at Wittenberg, and sends him his 
body physician, Dr. Ratzenberger, and begs 
him to return. This letter had good results. 


39 6 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


FUNCTIONS AT MERSEBURG. 1545- 
Luther arrived at Merseburg on July 30th, 
where he had gone to induct Prince George of 
Anhalt into the ministerial office.* 

Of the relations existing between him and 
Luther, Melanchthon says: 

“ Similar studies created a strong attachment 
between Luther and Prince George. After 
Luther had observed George’s piety and ex¬ 
emplary life, he loved him still more dearly, 
and many evidences of their mutual friendship 
and fraternal confidence are well known.” 

The Prince had a special inclination for the 
gospel ministry, and he requested Luther to 
ordain him, which was done August 2d, 1545. 

* George of Anhalt was born August 15th, 1507. He was 
the son of Prince Ernst and Margaretta, a princess of Mun- 
sterburg, in Silesia. He had two brothers, John and Jo¬ 
achim, and was dedicated from his youth to the sacred 
office. In the twelfth year of his age, he studied at Leipzig. 
Bishop Adolph of Merseburg, who died in 1526, aided him 
in obtaining a diaconate in that place. He was made ad¬ 
ministrator of the Bishopric, until Duke August abolished 
the office in 1541, so that George of Anhalt continued to be 
Senior in the Chapter, in which character he zealously es¬ 
poused the cause of the Reformation. He published sev¬ 
eral sermons, and died October 17th, 1553. Junius, iv. 225. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


397 


Of this solemn consecration act, he thus 
speaks himself: “ I requested ordination at the 
hands of the pious Bishop of Brandenburg, 
M. Matthias von Jagow, who confesses, thank 
God! the true doctrine, also the proper use of 
the holy sacraments, and he kindly consented, 
but he was removed out of the world before 
the time appointed. As there was no other * 
bishop in this country who could perform such 
service, except several suffragan bishops, in 
whom I had no confidence, and I knew no 
other from whom I could receive ordination 
without disorder, hence as Paul and Barnabas 
were ‘ set apart ’ by ‘ prophets and teachers/ 
Acts xiii. 2, so was I, by Rev. Dr. Martin Lu¬ 
ther and other pastors and true bishops publicly 
‘ set apart’ for the sacred office, with prayer and 
the laying on of hands, and the use of the 
holy communion, according to the apostolic 
custom, for which God be praised.” 

Many persons of high distinction in state 
and church were present at this solemnity. 
Luther, of course, preached the sermon. 

When in 1548, the Emperor published the 
Interim, he appointed the suffragan at Mainz, 
Michael Helding or Sidonius as bishop of 
34 


398 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

Merseburg, under the pretext that some 
canons wanted him. 

By this measure, the spiritual administration 
of Prince Anhalt ceased in that territory. 

During his presence at this place, Luther 
was also invited to preach the sermon on the 
occasion of the marriage of the deacon at 
Merseburg, Sigismund von Lindenau. 

Who can deny that the association of Lu¬ 
ther with persons of rank and the numerous 
opportunities he had of preaching the pure 
gospel in their presence, would contribute 
much to the progress of the Reformation ? 

After he had performed these diversified ser¬ 
vices at Merseburg, he could no longer resist 
the numerous demands made upon him to re¬ 
turn to Wittenberg. 

RETURN TO WITTENBERG, BY WAY OF HALLE 
(MERSEBURG) ZEITZ, EISLEBEN, LEIPZIG 
AND TORGAU. 1545- 

On his way home through Halle, he preached 
there, and the Council of the town presented 
him with a golden cup. 

In Leipzig, he was entertained by the cele- 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


399 


brated Professor Camerarius, who was an inti¬ 
mate friend of Melanchthon, and who prevailed 
on him to preach. 

While he was seated at the table of some 
one who had invited him and other friendo, 
the scandal occasioned by a person of high 
rank (doubtless the bigamy of the Landgrave 
Philip) was thrown up to him, to which he re¬ 
plied, “You dear younkers of Leipzig, I, 
Philip and others have written good and many 
useful books. You would not take the good 
that is in them, so now you may see only the 
bad.” He could not have given a better reply. 

He did nothing else in Torgau than pay his 
respects to the Elector. 

He reached home, of which he thus speaks: 

“Finally I have got home on August 18, 
and I have been so tormented with pains, that 
I am not free from them even to-day, August 
19.” His return occasioned universal rejoic¬ 
ing. 

He now finished his lectures on Genesis, at 
which he had worked laboriously for ten years, 
and concluded them on November 17, with 
these words, “ This is now the dear Genesis; 
God grant that others who come after me may 


400 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

do it better; I cannot do any more; I am 
weak; orate Deum pro me (pray to God for 
me), that he may grant me a happy dying 
hour.” As he also said, when he began the 
book: 

“ This will be my last book; with this, God 
willing, I will close my life.” 

In this year he was sorely afflicted by the 
death of his friend Spalatin, who died January 
16 , 1545- 

JOURNEYS TO EISLEBEN AND MANSFELD, 
THROUGH HALLE. 1 545 - 46 . 

Luther’s bodily strength was broken, but 
that did not prevent him from performing a 
work of peace making, which led him to the 
place of his birth and the scenes of his earliest 
training. The occasion was the following: 

For several years he was compelled to hear 
bitter complaints from his countrymen against 
Count Albert of Mansfeld. 

There were also serious difficulties between 
the counts themselves on the subject of the 
mines and other things, which, as was said, 
were encouraged by the jurists, of which Lu¬ 
ther frequently complained, so that the dissen- 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 4 OI 

sions between the brothers and relatives daily 
grew worse, and threatened most unhappy re¬ 
sults. 

Count Albert declared himself ready to sub¬ 
mit the matter to the arbitration of judicious 
persons, and that the mediation and decision 
of Luther would be specially agreeable to him, 
and he received permission from the Elector 
for Luther to visit Eisleben in October for this 
purpose. Notwithstanding his sickly condi¬ 
tion, he entered upon the journey, although 
the weather was cold.* 

He had Melanchthon and Jonas as his com¬ 
panions. He made an attempt at an adjust¬ 
ment of the difficulty immediately upon his 
arrival in Eisleben, but it was not successful, so 
that he was compelled to leave the place, 
without having accomplished anything. But 
he did not, however, remain inactive in refer¬ 
ence to the affair, but endeavored by letters to 
heal the dissension. 

This gave rise to a second visit in Decem- 

* The best account of the manifold difficulties which Lu¬ 
ther encountered in his journeys to Eisleben to settle this 
affair is found in Seckendorf, Comment. Histor. et Polit. de 
Lutheranismo, ed. 2. Leipz., 1794. Lib. iii. 634. 

34* 2 A 



402 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


ber of the same year, although he was very 
sick and the cold intense. Melanchthon and 
Jonas again accompanied him. 

Melanchthon was also sick and scarcely able 
to proceed. After five days of consultation 
and mediation, their efforts at reconciliation 
were fruitless, and they again left Eisleben for 
home. 

On the second Sunday of Epiphany, he 
preached his last sermon on Rom. iii. 3 seq., 
and among other things said: “ I will cheer¬ 
fully endure all manner of abuse, but I will 
not depart one finger’s breadth from that 
word.” Hear him—I see plainly that if God 
will not give us faithful preachers and servants 
of the church, the devil will tear our churches 
to pieces, and will not cease until he has fin¬ 
ished his work; that is his intention. If he 
cannot do it through the pope and the Emperor, 
he will do it through others.” 

At the conclusion of this sermon, he begged 
his hearers, that if they should hear that he 
was sick, not to pray that he may have long 
life, but for the blessing of a quiet and peace¬ 
ful death. 

“ The world,” said he, “ is tired of me, and 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


403 


I am tired of it; we shall part easily, just as a 
travelers anxious to leave the place in which 
he has put up.” 

LAST JOURNEYS TO TORGAU AND EISLEBEN, 
THROUGH BITTERFELD, LANDSBERG, 

AND HALLE. I 546 . 

Luther at this time was not only bowed 
down with sickness, but also with gloomy fore¬ 
bodings of the future, of which he gives evi¬ 
dence in a letter to Amsdorf, in which he also 
states that the devil and his whole kingdom are 
provoking the Elector to a terrible degree. To 
this kingdom, the people of Meissen also be¬ 
long, of whom Leipzig is beyond all measure 
the most avaricious, the proudest, and most 
corrupt head.* 

To this he attributed his fruitless journeys 
to Mansfeld. Notwithstanding this, he deter¬ 
mined to make another journey, which turned 
out to be the last, in the adjustment of this un¬ 
happy affair. There was also ecclesiastical 
business to be attended to, especially the sub¬ 
ject of the “.Right of Patronage” in the 
churches, which required his adjudication. 


* De Wette, v. 273 . 



404 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


Scarcely had he arrived at home from the 
preceding tour to Mansfeld, when the Counts 
of Mansfeld reflected upon the measures of 
adjustment proposed, and sent their Chancellor, 
George Lautenbach, to Luther, who by reason¬ 
able propositions and explanations might create 
hopes in Luther that if he would take the 
trouble to come again, peace might be re¬ 
stored through his mediation. 

He was prevailed upon to go, although at 
that time (January 17), he thus wrote to his 
friend, Jacob Probst, in Bremen : 

“ I write to you, my Jacob, as an old, de- 
crepid, weary, slow-moving, cold, and now 
one-eyed man, who had hoped that they 
would allow some merited rest to me, who may 
be looked upon as dead, or, at least, dying, and 
yet I am now so overwhelmed with writing, 
speaking, and business, as though I had never 
worked, written, spoken, or done anything. 
But Christ is all, and in all, who can do all 
things, and blessed be he forever. Amen.”* 
The Elector granted him permission to un¬ 
dertake this journey. 


* De Wette, v, 777. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


405 


He took affectionate leave of his friends on 
January 23, 1546. He left home accompa¬ 
nied by his three sons and his servant. 

The first night was spent at Bitterfeld, and 
the next at Landsberg, and on January 25 he 
arrived at Halle. 

The extremely cold weather prevented longer 
journeys in a day. 

At table, in the house of Jonas, at Halle, he 
drank out of a glass vessel, and uttered the 
following distich : 

Dat vitrum vitreo Jonae ipse Lutherus, 

Ut vitro fragile similem se noscat uterque. 

(Luther, himself a glass, gives a glass to the glassy Jonas, 
That they may both know they are like fragile glass.) 

He remained at Halle three days on ac¬ 
count of the swollen river, of which he wrote 
to his wife: 

“ Grace and peace in the Lord, dear Katy. 
We got to Halle this morning at eight o’clock, 
but did not proceed to Eisleben, for we en¬ 
countered an anabaptist in the form of immense 
waves of water and huge ice blocks, which 
overflowed the country and threatened us with 
a second immersion. Neither could we turn 


40 6 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

back on account of the Mulda, and hence we 
had to lie inactive here between the two 

raging rivers.As my traveling 

companions the coachman, and myself were 
all apprehension, we would not trust ourselves 
to cross and tempt God,, for the devil has a 
spite against us, and lives in the water ; and we 
had better take care of ourselves than have 
reason to lament afterwards ; besides there is 
no necessity of giving the pope and his scaly 
cardinals any occasion of making fools of 
themselves by frantic rejoicing 

“ I did not think that the Saala could ever 
bubble up at such a fearful rate, and rumble 
over the highways and everything. 

“ Nothing more at present ; pray for us and 
fear God. I think that if you had been here, 
you would have advised us to do as we have 
done, and then I would have for once taken 
your advice. I commend you to i God. 
Amen.”* 

On January 26, he preached on Acts ix. 
1—19, and in his introduction he said : “ In 
Rome they make a great ado about the bodies 
of the apostles Peter and Paul, and show their 


* De Wette, v. 780. 




JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 407 

heads, which they look upon as most sacred 
relics; but these heads are not genuine, and 
even if they were, they would be of no more 
use than the altar on which they stand, for 
that does not make it more holy than any 
other altar. But we,” he continues, “ have 
the true body of Paul; yea, not alone of Paul, 
but of Peter and of the Lord Jesus himself, 
and do not concern ourselves about the dead 
bodies at Rome. This is the genuine sacred 
relic, that we have not only Paul and his epis¬ 
tles, but also the prophets and the apostles ; yea, 
Christ himself, in the Bible —that we read and 
study, we hear them speaking to us ; they had 
body and soul, that is certain; and thus we 
have their spirit when we understand the 
Scriptures. When I hear a sermon in church, 
I hear Peter and Paul; when I read in my 
chamber what they have taught and written, I 
hear them preaching and talking to me every 
day, for they taught and preached nothing else 
but what they have written. To this day, we 
hear with our ears and understand with our 
spirit, the wisdom and spirit which they had, 
and that is of great benefit to us. It does us 
no good to see their bodies and heads.” 


408 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


Although the risk of crossing the river on 
account of the inundation was diminished, yet, 
on the day of his departure from Halle, Janu¬ 
ary 28, it was still a perilous undertaking. 
He however made the venture in a boat with 
his company and with Dr. Jonas, and happily 
succeeded in crossing, though the danger w*as 
great. Whilst the boat was tossed about by 
the waves, Luther said to Jonas, “ Dear Dr. 
Jonas, would not the devil rejoice if Dr. Mar¬ 
tin with his three sons and you were drowned 
in the river.” 

He continued his journey, and on the fron¬ 
tiers of Mansfeld he was met by the counts 
with one hundred and thirteen horses, which 
has been much ridiculed by his enemies, par¬ 
ticularly by Cochloeus and Maimbourg. 

Before he reached Eisleben, he was so sud¬ 
denly attacked by debility, that they thought 
he was dying. During the stormy and cold 
weather, he had gone on foot a short distance, 
and then entered the vehicle. He had walked 
beyond his strength, had perspired, and then 
became cold. He was conveyed to a house, 
and rubbed with warm towels; in the evening, 
he ate and drank, was relieved, and did not 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 409 

complain. In the carriage, when he was first 
attacked, he said, “ This is the way the devil 
always treats me when I have some great 
enterprise on hand—he puts difficulties in my 
way, and tries me severely.” 

To his “ dear Katy” he writes on January 
29, “When we were at the village (Rissdorf), 
such a cold wind blew in the carriage from be¬ 
hind upon my head and through my cap, as if 
it would freeze my brain to ice. This may 
have contributed to the vertigo.” 

He improved to some extent at this place, 
but yet he was very sick when he arrived at 
Eisleben, where he called in medical aid. In 
the evening, he was able to sit at the table, and 
on the following and subsequent days, he felt 
strong enough to attend the meetings for the 
adjudication of the contested points. Notwith¬ 
standing his weakness, he preached on four 
consecutive Sundays, and he closed his last 
sermon with the words, “ God grant that we 
may receive his precious word with thanks, 
and grow in the knowledge and faith of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, and continue faithful to the 
end in the confession of his sacred word. 
Amen.” 


|IO 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


During this visit to Eisleben, he received 
absolution, and communed twice; at the 
second communion, February 14, he ordained 
two candidates agreeably to apostolic usage. 

He uttered many precious and consoling 
sayings to those around him, and quoted 
many encouraging passages of Scriptures at 
table with the counts and others. He often 
spoke of his advancing age, and hoped soon 
to return home and lie down to rest.* 

He had every reason to complain of the 
slow progress of the proceedings looking 
towards reconciliation. In a letter to Melanch- 
thon on February 6, he says: “ Here we sit and 
lie idle and busy; idle, because we are doing 
nothing ; busy, because we suffer unspeakably 
from the torments of the wicked Satan. We 
thought we had finally hit upon a method of 
pacification, but Satan prevented it again. 

“ Then we proposed another, which we 
thought would most surely succeed, but Satan 
hindered it once more. 

“ Now we have found a third, which appears 
feasible, but this result will show how it goes. 
I beg you to ask Dr. Briick to bring this mat- 


*Meurer’s Life should be read in relation to these times. 



JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


411 

ter to the attention of the Elector, that he may 
call me home; perhaps in this way I can hurry 
them on to a peaceful conclusion. For I ob¬ 
serve that they will not permit me to leave here 
as long as the perplexing affair is unadjusted. 
I will yet give them this week; then I will 
threaten them with the Elector’s letter.” 

When, in this letter, he complains of the 
jurists, he particularly alludes to Dr. Melchior 
Kling. He said that if he got home, he would 
write a book upon “ Silver and Golden Law¬ 
yers.” 

He kept up an active correspondence with 
his wife, who wrote him many consoling let¬ 
ters, and expressing her painful anxiety about 
his health. In one of his replies, he says : 

“ Let me alone about thine anxieties; I have 
a better sympathizer than thou and all the 
angels are. He lies in the manger and hangs 
on his mother’s bosom, but at the same time is 
seated at the right hand of the Almighty 
Father.” In another, he says: 

“ Pray thou, and let God take care of me; 
for we read, ‘ Cast your burdens on the Lord, 
for he careth for you’ (Ps. 55). We are, thank 
God, well and in good spirits, except that the 


412 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


business makes me impatient and spoils my 
enjoyment, and that Dr. Jonas bruised his leg 

by stumbling against a bureau.We 

would gladly be rid of this affair and go home, 
if God will. Amen, amen, amen. Your holi¬ 
ness’s obedient servant, Martinus Lutherus.” 

During his three weeks’ delay at Eisleben, 
every evening at eight o’clock he left the table 
in “ the large hall,” and went to his little 
chamber. His servant, Dr. Jonas, his two 
sons,* and another and sometimes two servants 
in the chamber; and on account of his weak¬ 
ness, they warmed his pillows and bed. 

Dr. Jonas and Coelius conducted him to 
bed every night, and he affectionately bid them 
good-night, often in these words : 

“ Dr. Jonas and Herr Michael, pray to God 
that affairs in his church may prosper, for the 
Council of Trent is very provoking.” 

He also stood at his window every night for 
some time, and prayed so earnestly, that those 
who were present sometimes heard his words, 
and were amazed. 

After this, he would converse some minutes, 
and then went to bed.John Sickel, the 


* The third son had remained among friends on the way. 





JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


413 


secretary of Dr. Jonas, heard him praying at 
the window the evening before his death in a 
loud voice: 

“ Lord God, Heavenly Father, I call upon 
thee in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
whom by thy grace I have confessed and 
preached, that thou wouldst hear me according 
to thy promise. Thou hast, in thy great 
mercy, revealed to me the apostacy, the blind¬ 
ness and ignorance of the pope, and that the 
light of the gospel should follow, which is now 
advancing in all the world. I pray thee that 
thou wouldst preserve the church of my dear 
fatherland until the end in the truth and in 
constant adhesion to thy Word, so that the 
whole world may be convinced that thou hast 
sent me for this purpose. Amen.” 

Wherever he was, or in whatever business he 
was engaged, he always carried the reforma¬ 
tion work, the holy cause of the gospel, upon 
his praying heart, as on this occasion, when 
peculiar worldly controversies engaged his 
attention. Higher than everything else in the 
world to him, was the glory of God and of 
Jesus Christ. 

He writes to his wife: “ Dear Katy, We 
35 * 


4H 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


hope to get home this week, if God will. He 
has manifested great mercy here, for the 
Counts, through their Councillors, have settled 
all their difficulties excepting in two or three 
articles. The two men, Count Gebhard and 
Count Albert, have become brothers again, 
which fraternal reconciliation I will consum¬ 
mate to-day, by inviting them to my table, 
that they may speak with each other, for they 
have been silent heretofore, and have roundly 
abused each other in writings, etc.” 

He had no premonition of what would soon 
happen to him, for already on January 16, his 
sickness, which consisted particularly in de¬ 
pression of the heart, vertigo and fainting, 
greatly increased. Ratzenberger applied an 
issue, which somewhat relieved him. 

The sessions of the lawyers and arbitrators, 
which were held two or three days continu¬ 
ously, were attended by him sometimes an 
hour or more, but on January 17, the Counts 
and others present all begged him not to come 
before noon, but rest. 

He lay in his chamber on a leathern bed 
and occasionally went to the window and 
offered a fervent prayer, which he usually did 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 415 

during his three weeks’ detention in Eisle- 
ben. 

Occasionally he was heard to say, “ Dr. 
Jonas and Herr Coelius, I was born and bap¬ 
tized here; how, if I should remain here ? ” 
But on Feb. 17, he took his meals in “the 
large room,” and spiced them with many of the 
richest sayings. Full of the hope of return¬ 
ing home, he said: “ When I shall have rec¬ 
onciled the Counts and accomplished the de¬ 
sign of my journey here, I will go home and 
lie down to sleep in my coffin, and rest” 

On the same evening at supper, he com¬ 
plained of oppression of the breast, but would 
not allow the doctor to be called, for it was 
gradually subsiding. 

He ate moderately, and was cheerful, and 
mingled humor with impressive sayings con¬ 
cerning death and a future life. 

He then laid down upon his bed, and slept 
for several hours, whilst his friends held watch 
with him. When he awoke and saw the 
friends assembled round, he said, “ Are you 
still here; do you not wish to go to bed ? ” 
They replied, “ No, reverend father; it becomes 
us to watch and wait on you.” 


416 journeys of luther. 

Count Albert and Magister Aurifaber 
brought ammonia. When the count said, “ O 
dear doctor, how are you ? ” and Luther re¬ 
plied, “ There is no necessity for that, gracious 
sir; I begin to feel better.” The count himself 
scraped the ammonia, and gave it to him to 
drink in wine. He became better, and thought 
if he could sleep half an hour, everything 
would happily pass over. He desired to rise, 
and went into his chamber. When he crossed 
the threshhold, he said, “ Let God rule. I am 
going to bed. Into thy hands, I commend my 
-spirit. Thou hast redeemed me, thou faithful 
God.” 

When he had retired, he gave his hand to 
his friends, and said, “ Dr. Jonas, Magister 
Coelius, and ye others, pray to God that his 
gospel may succeed, for the enemy is strong.” 

At one o’clock, he awoke and said to Dr. 
Jonas, who, with other friends, was watching, 
“ Oh, Lord God! I feel so weak and such se¬ 
vere pains ! I now think it likely that I shall 
remain in Eisleben, where I was born and bap¬ 
tized. 

Dr. Jonas and Coelius consoled him by say¬ 
ing, “ Reverend father, bless your dear Lord 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


417 


Jesus Christ, our High Priest, the only Medi¬ 
ator; you have perspired well, God will favor 
you by restoring you.” He replied, “ It is 
the cold sweat of death; I shall give up my 
spirit, my malady is growing worse,” and then 
he offered a fervent, heart-touching prayer. 

Two physicians were called in. Count Al¬ 
bert and his wife also came. Luther said, “ I 
am going; I shall give up my spirit,” and then 
he repeated three times very quickly: 

“Pater, in manus tuas commendo spiritum 
meum; redemisti me, Deus veritatis.” 

(Father, into thy hands, I commend my 
spirit; thou hast redeemed me, O God of truth). 

He then lay silent with his eyes closed, 
while the friends were rubbing him. The 
countess herself and the physicians rubbed his 
pulse with medicines which his wife had sent 
him, and which he had been in the habit of 
using. When Jonas and Coelius in a loud 
tone called to him, “ Reverend father, will you 
now confess Christ and his doctrine which you 
have preached, and die trusting in the merits 
of your Lord Jesus Christ?” He distinctly 
replied, “Yes.” Then he turned on his right 
side and fell asleep, which led them to hope 


41 8 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

for an improvement. But the physicians and 
others said that no reliance could be placed in 
the sleep. Candles were applied near his eyes 
to ascertain whether the light would affect 
him. Count Hans Heinrich and his wife came 
in. Luther’s countenance grew pale—his 
breathing became slower and lighter, until he 
gently fell asleep in the Lord. 

Immediately after his death, Prince Wolf¬ 
gang of Anhalt, the brother Counts Philip and 
John George and other gentlemen arrived. 
The news awakened universal regret, and 
many citizens of the town hurried to the place 
to see the beloved deceased reformer. 

Thus a wonderfully active life finished its 
course, and the last journey of Luther to 
Eisleben for the immediate purpose of recon¬ 
ciling the Counts of Mansfeld, like all the rest, 
was not without importance and interest to the 
work of the Reformation. 

He said several times at Eisleben, that he 
had left Wittenberg for the purpose of having 
some rest from his daily work and interrup¬ 
tions of visitors, and that he would do nothing 
but preach and pray, and try to bring about a 
union between the two Counts. This he 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


419 


faithfully executed, and on this last visit, the 
work of reformation was specially promoted 
by the introduction and adoption through his 
agency and influence, of the Church Service 
Book prepared by Dr. Caspar Giittel. 

He also introduced an improved system of 
school education in Eisleben, thus showing to 
the end of his life the importance he attached 
to church and school. May the observation 
which he made in relation to this subject be 
laid to heart in our day : 

“ Small things and property are greatly en¬ 
larged by unity, as the heathen said; but dis¬ 
cord and disunion are dangerous in schools, 
professions, art, and among the teachers of 
them, who should cheerfully extend the hand 
to each other and kiss it. But when we bite 
and devour one another, look to it that we are 
not altogether consumed.” 

JOURNEYS AT TIMES UNKNOWN, AND CON¬ 
CLUSION. 

As I have now concluded those journeys 
undertaken in the service of the Reformation, 
of which we know the years and places, I feel 
bound to speak also of those performed in 


420 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

times unknown to us, because in them so 
many beautiful traits of the noble champion 
for light and truth are displayed. 

“ At one time Dr. Luther was traveling,” 
says Mathesius, “ and arriving at a village one 
Sunday morning while the church bells were 
ringing, he descended from the carriage with 
his traveling companions, went to church, and 
heard the sermon. They spoke of it, and 
when one of them said, ‘ The preacher might 
have treated the subject more correctly.’ Lu¬ 
ther replied, ‘ Ah! if a pastor can simply 
preach Christ out of the Catechism, he is a 
blessed preacher ; there were not only gold 
and silver vessels in the tabernacle of Moses, 
but copper and iron ones, but they all con¬ 
duced to the service of God.’ ” 

At another time, he stopped at the house of 
a village pastor, who tried to entertain him 
very kindly. The friendly host desired nothing 
more from his guest than the Lord’s prayer 
and a scriptural verse written by his own 
hand, Luther wrote on the wall of the room, 
Domini Sumns (We are the Lord’s).. These 
words, it is said, comforted the pious host in 
troubles and sorrows to the end of his days. 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 


421 


He once went to Griinaar, and was hospita¬ 
bly entertained by the Lord of the manor. 
He saw around him a group of lovely children, 
with whom he was exceedingly pleased, but 
he could not suppress a sigh, which was ex¬ 
pressed in the words : “ Good heavens ! every 
condition of life has its crosses and evils. 
Noblemen must often remain unmarried, on 
account of their relatives’ children.” 

On a journey with Dr. Jonas and others, he 
gave alms t;o the poor on his way, although he 
was poor himself. Jonas followed the example 
with the remark, “ Who knows when God 
will give it back again ? ” Luther replied, 
“ Just as if God had not given it to you be¬ 
fore ; we must give freely, disinterestedly, 
willingly, out of pure love.” 

On going to Nimeck once, he said : “ How 
many deaths we have in our bodies; it is 
nothing but death, death, all the time : look at 
all your members, and you will see it.” 

He himself had this experience, although he 
had a vigorous constitution; but with all this 
“death ” in his members, and frequently sick and 
weak, he faithfully discharged his duty in the 
work of the Reformation. 

36 


422 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

When the news of his death was reported in 
Eisleben, the people exclaimed, “ Our father is 
dead! ” Silence reigned in the streets, the 
houses were closed and the inmates wept bit¬ 
terly over the general calamity. 

Every admirer of Luther must acknowledge 
that he had faults. We must not forget that, 
with all his greatness, he was a child of his 
times, which has its influence more or less 
on the wisest men. The amenities of life and 
the refinements of society were not as well un¬ 
derstood nor as extensively cultivated as they 
are now, and before we censure, we must put 
ourselves back to that age, and know how 
men lived and thought and spoke. Lessing 
says: “ I venerate Luther so profoundly, that 
it is rather agreeable to me to have discovered 
some faults in him, otherwise I would be in 
danger of worshiping him.” 

And this excessive veneration he did not 
himself desire, as appears from his own con¬ 
fessions. 

“ My doctrine,” says Luther, “ is the chief 
matter of which I triumphantly boast; not 
only against princes and kings, but against all 
devils, and I have nothing else than that to 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 423 

support, strengthen and cheer my heart, and 
the longer I live, the more firm, yea, obstinate 
do I become in the maintenance of it. The 
other matters, my life and person, I know my¬ 
self to some extent, that it is sinful, and de¬ 
serves no honor or praise; I am a poor sinner, 
and leave my friends to be saints and angels.’’ 

He who speaks of himself in this humble 
spirit, with this consciousness of personal un¬ 
worthiness, cannot be gratified with human 
praise, and does not desire his doctrine to be 
regarded as infallible, or a paper pope to be 
made of his theology.” 

Kahnis has well said of him, “ Luther is 
Germany’s tallest figure, because in him, who 
was all soul, personality and individuality, the 
eternal essence of Christianity, personal fellow¬ 
ship with God through Christ, found its fitting 
representative.” 

Hunderhagen, in his German Protestantism, 
says : “ Luther saw deep into the abyss of the 
moral corruption, which the Roman doctrine 
of righteousness by works had spread abroad 
among the common laity; he knew from living 
personal experience the unhappy condition 
into which even the most honest souls, the 


424 JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 

most devout minds had been placed by this 
doctrine; he had found for himself the exit out 
of this system of error, in the doctrine of 
righteousness by faith, which is the only se¬ 
cure path to peace with God. 

“ The essence and central point in which 
the Reformation was concentrated as a whole, 
was the regenerated Pauline doctrine of justi¬ 
fication by faith.” 

Every thing that he did and said had an ul¬ 
timate reference to the end for which he 
labored. Even social intercourse and cheerful 
meal were spiced by sayings which were in¬ 
geniously turned to the promotion of the 
cause. The truth was more important to him 
than everything else, and he always main¬ 
tained it, amid the greatest perils, to the very 
end. 

Whilst he was terribly severe against false¬ 
hood and malice, yet he was generous towards 
all, and always ready for reconciliation. 

He was a faithful intercessor for all who 
were oppressed or poor, and never used his 
great influence with persons of rank to the in¬ 
jury, but always to the benefit of others. 

The gospel was for him the only ground on 


JOURNEYS OF LUTHER. 425 

which the Reformed church was to be built, 
and he everywhere sought, when upon his 
travels, to win the hearts of men for the gos¬ 
pel, because he well knew that faith cometh by 
hearing. 

And that is also in our days the basis on 
which the church, as a new and beautiful edi¬ 
fice, must stand, which the gates of hell shall 
never destroy. 

We are all called to perform a mighty work, 
and Luther can and will breathe into our souls 
a portion of his Christian, God-fearing, ener¬ 
getic spirit. 














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